I know DARPA is crowd sourcing a UAV, but I had the idea that there has to be a UAV airframe that works for most of the lower budget hobbyists and researchers out there. I have seen some great DIY airframe designs and would like to pose these questions:

• What is your ideal airframe; including configurations like high wing, t-tail or conventional, round fuselage, square fuselage with blended edges, landing gear, bungee launch, and on and on...?
• How much are you willing to spend for a plane ready to go where you install your own autopilot?
• Obviously crash resistance is important, but within reason how tough should said plane be?
• Going along with toughness, what is the ideal wing loading you would like to see without making a flying brick that can take a beating, yet not fly?
• What are your thoughts on composites..yay, nay, hybrid of foam/composites?
• How big? 
• What kind of payload capability do you want/need for your research/hobby?

I know this list can go on and on and everyone's needs are different but the most important questions to me are:

How much are you willing to spend for the airframe, and how big or small should it be for your needs?

Thanks all, and I hope we keep the discussion going because sometimes the airframe is the biggest limitation.