Clancy, you have certainly built some marvelous models.
I'm not sure I'm phrasing this well, but what I'm suggesting is that the modelers self-segregate as to what level they want to build to. Perhaps Junior/Senior/Open implies age too much, and the groups could be called Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced and Expert (gee, this sounds familiar). Everybody except Beginner, perhaps, gets judged to the same standard. If you win Intermediate a few times you get bumped up to Advanced and compete at a higher level. I think the events get simpler and perhaps the judging gets a little harder.
Expert gets entries because there are many who want to compete against the best. Expert in PA carries a cachet not present in the lower graded groups, and so is what most aspire to do. On the other hand, someone who is satisfied with a lower level of performance can truck along in a "lower" group as long as they want.
What I think is important is the execution and flying of the model, not the source of the plans, the kit, or the ARF. If flying ARFs gets more people into scale models, then I think we will all benefit from increased entries and more events. There are people who want to compete in scale who do not have the time, skills or whatever to build at an expert level, witness the popularity of the Tucson 1/2A profile event. And by the way, notice the increasingly elaborate models being flown there
If you look at IPMS modelers, they nearly all start with a plastic kit, but invest much time in research and scratchbuilding components for theit models. The result is really superb miniature aircraft, so source is perhaps not so important. That said, the scale event should be set up so that craftsmanship, fidelity, originality, etc are rewarded.
I took it as a compliment when told I should move up to Intermediate from Beginner in PA. I would love for the same thing to happen in Scale!
John