As someone that also (recently) started flying (again), I find it interesting that the flying events are still on based on the less than 15% market share that planes have vs. the nearly 85% market share that cars and trucks have combined, with "trucks" occupying roughly 25% of the market. You guys will have to dig for the stats, but these are fairly accurate as of 2023.
I don't know if the venue limitations on size for Horizon RC Fest, Badlands, and Axialfest Euro were an issue. Beat the creek is still on probably because of the relatively high turnout and possibly lower cost for attendance. Joe Nall has over 700 pilots registered to fly. EAA Venture coincides with one of the largest general aviation events, so that is a no-brainer. Many full scale pilots also fly RC planes, myself included.
Based on my experience, you typically have a more captive audience with planes, and people that end up sticking to flight are heavily invested in it, hence it's easier to "capture" them into one ecosystem if that were the goal. That said, I was wise to the game already, and I encourage everyone to get away from Horizon/Eflite equipment as quickly as possible before they have thousands invested just in radios, chargers and batteries that would be of more limited use in other airframes.
