If you ignore the cool factor (which is hard to do), the speed, efficiency, excellent glide ratio and the fabulous unimpeded visibility, the canard won for me on cash flow.

The airframe costs about $18k to build, and you can do it bit by bit as cash flow allows. Shell out a couple of K and build some parts.  Keep doing that till you have a plane :)

Another nice thing about building from plans is that you get to add you're own special touches. Maybe you want a front opening canopy, a 3 inch wider fuselage or the "Cozy Girrrl strakes". Finally, with a canard you "build" a plane. With an RV you just assemble it. Subtle difference, but in composites you're really creating something - not just screwing parts together.

My 2c.
John Slade