Perhaps you're one of those modelers who simply builds "out of the box"-I'm not. If you build any kit straight out of the box, with just glue, they'd all be identical, with no personality. The Bandai kit can benefit greatly from upgrades, detail painting, and seam filling. I added a flasher unit, several flashing position lights, LED running lights, additional scratchbuilt styrene and brass details, and hours of detail painting, shading, and washes. Out of the box, it's a great kit, but can be a lot better, and is
much better than the Polar Lights offering. For a beginning modeler it can be a great inspiration and learning tool, and is worth every penny. The Bandai Enterprise-A and -E are fine kits as well, and the Voyager is outstanding.