Hodge podge, thrown together, custom, whatever you want to call it- I prefer that approach to "bolt-on" any day. I have an engineering mind so designing stuff isn't the problem. Sometimes life needs the money more than your RCs do, and life always takes priority.
I hope your Mom is doing OK, and if you ever have some "extra" cash I hope you can pick up a good BL system and experience the thrill of "too much power".
