You can 'chuckle' all you want Bob, we all know this is directed at me because I've always encouraged builders to use time tested simple systems/methods when building. Conservative, yes, but this generally leads to an improved
safety record for EAB. We know when you take everything to the bleeding edge just so you can have the "latest and greatest", the risk certainly increases.
So yes, I am all about and will continue to encourage safe, simple, and reliable aircraft, which should equate to a lower accident rate. Additional bonus is it also happens to be cheaper most of the time.
The hobby has changed so much over the last 20+ years, a guy used to have to have a true burning desire to build an airplane in his garage, now, a fat wallet is mostly all it takes to build an RV (a stroll around Osh these days proves this).
I had a great experience a few weeks ago flying into a local bbq hotspot. Newly build, un-painted, no wheel pants RV7A sitting on the ramp and this young kid strolls over and is getting ready to depart. I walk over to admire his work and chat for a minute. It was such a great story to hear, young (maybe 35-40) been building for 10+ years, slow build, put the engine together himself with some help, put together his own really basic VFR panel, no interior... you get the picture. We talked for a good while and I invited him to tag along to Osh next year, could see the excitement in his face. I thought to myself this is the face of a true homebuilder, it was so refreshing, it absolutely made my day. We exchanged contact info and I look forward to meeting him again.