I agree with you completely, although I have to admit that I am a racer/enthusiast that is guilty of purchasing online. I buy what I can, from the hobby shop that I am going to be using the vehicle at. For instance, while racing onroad or oval at His And Hers, most of my equipment and replacement parts were always on the wall, at a very decent price, so I purchased it right there. When I race offroad, I try to purchase my offroad supplies from Bristol R/C where I usualy use that equipment. $5.00 here or there will not break anybody, and it really does help out the Local Hobby Shop. Then again there are times when Ebay ( gasp sorry ) makes it possible for a racer to save more than $20 or $30 on a single part...and lots of racers are on a tight budget. Online shopping is here to stay, and sometimes it allows enthusiasts to get a component that they normally wouldn't be able to get.

I guess, we should do what we can...as often as possible...for our Local Hobby Shops.