I loved the cheapo break-once-n-done rc vehicles when I was younger but sadly was never able to afford even something like that. When I was in my 20's, I picked up what I thought was the baddest of the bad... a probably $50+ toy-grade truck. Fwiw I think it was the coil-springs that grabbed me lol. Drove it right off of the Galveston Seawall into the Gulf Of Mexico. Salt water finished the job.
Then one day my ex g/f and I were driving up I-45 towards Houston and I insisted that we stop in this really cool looking place called Issac's Hobbies ( around League City). Once inside, my fate was sealed. Not sure if I acquired it that same day but at some point I took home an Associated RC10GT kit, an OS .12 ps, and all the trimmings! It was fascinating and exhilarating to embark upon the build. I had no idea what I was getting into but with each successful step, I knew that I was a little closer to making this thing come to life... probably not completely unlike a nerdy Dr. Frankenstein... or "Fronkensteen" since Mel Brooks is an idol of mine.
The day that I fired it up and broke it in, was something I'll likely never forget... the rich bubbling sound of the nitro, the noxious dizzying aroma, and with each incremental turn of a screwdriver... faster and faster and faster! I just dove head-first into the world of upgrades, familiarizing myself with it's behavior, and becoming a better driver and mechanic with each session. I then built another GT and then a TMaxx, then an MP7.5. I was hooked.
Some years later while trudging through the damage and decay of a failing relationship I finally peaked, leveled out, then lost the drive altogether. My vehicles were broken and derelict... and so was I. I kept most everything but the dust thickened as they... and I... sat on the shelf waiting for a spark. Fast forward 10+ years and along came a new relationship, a new home, a new job, and I began to feel that glowing flicker again. When a buddy of mine was recovering from back surgery recently, he came to me and asked what he might do to pass his time. He and I already shared a good deal of identical interests ( shooting, camping, photography, off-roading, mtn-biking, outdoors, etc) so I told him he should look into the world of RC cars and helis. That's just what he did and wound up with a nitro buggy in no time lol.
The more that I helped to guide him through certain steps, and the more that I saw his enthusiasm... the more I longed to get back into the game. But I also knew that I wanted to go in a different direction. I was never a pavement guy... always liked the dirt, so low and behold one day I stumbled upon an affordable yet promising-looking crawler... an inexpensive and mild-mannered EMC 16. I knew that it wasn't going to be anything like what the cool kids were running with their 1/10 Axials and Vaterras and cool haircuts and Monster Energy drinks, but it was a step... and damn did it feel good! Since picking this little thing up, it truly reignited the flame and I'm now looking at my next crawler... an Ascender or TRX 4. Another buddy of mine has a little Proline Ambush and when my fiancee isn't home, we transform the living room into a full-on crawl-course... usually complete with pizza, full-size wrenching ( Jeeps), and a whole lotta laughs and memories. I do believe that my girl actually has this vision of us rolling around on the floor in pajamas and wearing underwear on our heads, but I assure anyone still reading that this is absolutely not the case.
So that's my story. I dunno if it fits into OP's intent but there seemingly has always been a bug biting at my heart and my wallet. There's just something about the thrill of a satisfying run... the simple pleasure of the hobby... the ability to modify, to learn, to overcome. And the ultimate release of day to day stress when you gently ease into that trigger and watch things flex, crawl, and spin... what a rush. I hope that I never lose this flame again because being a full-blown tinkering, fabricating, wide eyed kid in an old dude's body is just a hell of a lotta fun.
