Dear Mr. Wind,
Or Fox, if that isn't too informal.
I understand that in Europe, especially Germany where this program got started, there are more stations than beer steins. I am no expert, just look at my questions, but it is my understanding that the more stations, the better. If someone is off line with internet problems, with being knocked out by a storm, or whatever, your station might be feeding info the same as another guy a few blocks away until he tripped over the cord. And while distant strikes at a poor look angle don't get much improvement from a duplicate report just a little ways from each other, at certain angles there is a good contribution to the solution of where the strike is.
Everyone can speak for themselves, but my opinion is that: More stations the better. There is an expense but if you fish this pales in comparison to tackle bait, boats, motors, storage and beer. The kit really was easier to assemble than I thought, but if you have little or no experience, it would be tough to find the place that a ham-handed assembly was botched and then correct without ruining a component or the board trace. So perhaps in the case of someone anxious about their ability, look around for a local ham and be frank, saying you need some assembly work done, and just because he thinks he's a ham he can do it, I'd ask how long has he been a ham and has he built kits from Heathkit in the past, assembled his own projects, etc. You want quality help and if you ask pointedly but politely, you are entitled to know how experienced the guy is. Sort of like asking your surgeon how many of a particular procedure s/he's done. Your body, you have a right to know, and they expect to be asked nowadays.
I have had so much fun since staring on this project. Not only relearning the soldering and setup and all, but annoying the hell out of the others here with my incessant questions. Not only do I know more now, but there is a response history that others might reference. And almost all the chaps here are wonderful, except for a few and you know who you are, don't you? JUST KIDDING!
To have access to much of the better detail and zoomability and all is dependent (for now unless the system originators decide differently) upon being an active member.
So don't stand on the outside of the window looking in. Open the door and come on it.