[drunken monkey]

the more you type, the more confused your position seems to me.

you started this thread with the basic premise that you don't consider it fair for scratchbuilt models to be competing in the same arena as built kit models, mainly because of the typically high level of 'engineering', especially in the bigger scales.

however, you are now saying that is valid for people to commision parts, from those with machining capabilties, for their models.

you also say that a person doesn't deserve extra credit for mahining their own parts versus buying or commisioning parts.

I don't quite see how those three statements can work together.
surely if you consider it valid to commision parts for a kit built model, then you must also consider that a fair competitor to fully scratchbuilt models, especially seeing you do say that scratchbuilding parts itself doesn't deserve extra credit
i.e, it isn't the scratch building/machining that is being judged.

what's to stop you to commision parts equal to those you saw at the extreme end of the scratchbuilt spectrum?
if it is viable as you say it is, why would you still need/want to seperate built kits and scratch builds?