Why would someone want to build and fly a homebuilt when perfectly good certified aircraft are available?
In a sense, Cessnas & Pipers can be compared to older Chevys and Fords, in that they attempt to be “all things to all people”. Such compromises may be acceptable for most, but not all pilots. One of the remarkable things about homebuilts is the sheer diversity of designs & intended purposes. There are some compact aircraft that store in your garage and fly off of any short field. Right next to it might be another that carries 4 people 300mph at 18,000 ft. Next to that one is one that cost less that $10K to build. Another could be flown in unlimited-class aerobatics. Note that your garden variety Skyhawk can’t do any of these things, but it’s still a quite a useful & desirable airplane. It all depends on what you want it to do.
