Any hobby should challenge

Any hobby should challenge the mind, if not the body. I find model railroading to provide ample opportunity to learn and challenge my brain but also my hands. I dabbled in RC planes for a little while but couldn't bear to chance crashing my handiwork. It will always be trains for me.

Definitions

I think what strikes me is the "not for a lazy person."  I guess that rules me out.  I consider myself lazy.  I spend lots of time trying to figure out how to save time and effort in my every day tasks, whether it is at work, at home or in my hobbies.  I know several people who do love their trains, just doing "plug and play" and I wouldn't consider them any less interested in model trains.  How they enjoy it really isn't my concern, but the fact they enjoy model railroading is good for me and the rest of us.  The more of us there are, the more products will be available, and the more understood the hobby would be.  I just don't think it makes any sense to pick and choose who is a model railroader and who isn't based on criteria of what you enjoy about the hobby.  It's a big tent.

Fiddlesticks

The blank stare

The blank stare comment got me. When i choose to tell people that i model a railroad, the overwhelming majority of folks reply " That is expensive isn't it?"

expensive and time consuming

when people ask me about it being expensive and time consuming  ny stock answer is that it can be as expensive and time consuming as you let it. i personally like to find ways to stretch my hobby budget and if that means cardstock and zip texturing so be it. i don't have a problem with big expensive buy what you need layouts. in fact some of those are great looking and running layouts. they are just not for me. most of the people i get to talk to about my hobby are people i work with or have worked with and a couple of them have become interested in trains and models now. as far as time consuming i consider it time well spent as long as i enjoy what i do with my time.

Diversity rules

Everyone likes the "wow" factor in expansive, top-of-the-line-everything basement empires, but there are those who enjoy buying a plug-and-play kit and watching the trains run around the loop, too. Those who have little time and little money are careful spending resources and read a lot; those who have dsiposable income and spare time get to be more care-free with what they do. The rest of us fall somewhere in between. There's painting, carpentry, electronics, railroad operation, history -- a whole bunch of arts and technology to keep hands and minds busy.

It's not an inexpensive hobby, but it isn't $1000 per month either (unless you want it to be). If you have the time, you can manufacture, barter, finagle, or adapt just about anything you need beyond the basics.

And don't forget about the social aspect. It's fun to play with trains. It's more fun to play with trains, share stories, pick up tips, show off your latest treasure, and spend time with other like-minded and interesting people. It's as demanding a hobby as you let it be, without demanding more than you can give. It's very diverse and lets you learn and exercise many useful skills. But above all, it is something to be enjoyed, else why bother.

That's more than two cents worth, but your request put me in a generous mood .

A hobby is whatever one makes

A hobby is whatever one makes of it.  Whether someone enjoys laying a circle of sectional track on the floor and running the Super Chief behind Thomas the Tank Engine, or scratchbuilding an exact scale replica of the Trans Siberian Railroad spike by spike makes no difference to me.  It passes the time and gives pleasure.  

If it's got rails and wheels and keeps the industry that produces them in miniature alive and well is all that matters to me.