[Elecraft] Re: Building a Kit

[Joe Malloy]

Hi, gang:

> Actually building a kit is the most mindless and menial
> part of the whole process.

Then, one is forced to ask, what is Elecraft selling, what did Heathkit
sell, what did Eico, Lafayette and others and, moveover, what do the
numerous QRP-rig sellers sell, a chance for a "mindless and menial" task?
*I'm* paying for this?  (Hey, I want my money back!) [They'll get my K2 from
me over my dead body!]

Actually, I think you got a bit carried away with your appreciation of
"homebrew."  Yes, the bulk of the work is in the design, no one who has a K2
would think otherwise.  But it does take some modicum of effort to assemble
a kit, no matter how foolproof it may have been designed, especially a
fairly complex kit like the K2.  No, I don't refer to my "homebrew K2" since
to do so would suggest I copied the schematics and made it all by myself.
But by the same token, most "homebrew" items depend on someone else's design
and schematics, are we going to devalue them too?

Let's recognize the skill and talent that went into designing a K2 (or
whatever) AND the skill and talent that goes into constructing one that
works.  We can all agree that the former takes more effort, but we can do so
without diminishing the effort required of the latter.

73,

Joe, W2RBA