surrealpartisan

Yes, you are mostly correct. In some sense, it is more a cultural thing. If your Arch breaks, the expectations for your ability to deal with it yourself are a bit higher. There are good instructions and people willing to help, but the latter (both inside and outside of Arch community, I think) may tell you that you shouldn't be using Arch if you don't meet their expectations.

Anyway, another aspect of it is the fact that with my system, I am a bit of a tinkerer.

You know, the kind that insists on using Arch, despite being slightly (or more) below the skill level one should have before using it.