Hey Sam,
Seems like someone or something in the F16 class is really getting to you. Is it that someone can buy or even home-build a 16ft boat that is "almost as fast as an F18" that upsets you ? Or is it that if your crew doesn`t pitch up, you CAN`T take the jib off & go sailing on an equal or similar footing to your mates ? Perhaps you really think the boats are great, but are too big & heavy to sail one ?
Whatever your reasons, there`s no real need to keep on putting another class down - whatever you sail, I`m sure you enjoy it - that`s why some people sail Hobie 16`s, some sail Taipans, Some sail Tornados etc. Everyone thinks their own boat is the greatest, that`s why they chose it in the first place. I think that those who are continously putting down other boats are probably unhappy with what they sail, and are trying to convince themselves that other boats are worse than theirs, rather than believing their own boat is just great. Why call F16 a "overweight wanna-be A Class" ? Why even compare the two ? I`m sure A-class sailors choose their boat for all it`s virtues, and choose it even though they are fully aware that they can`t race with a crewmember. Others want the option of doing either, must they buy two boats ? Must a Tornado sailor also have two boats - no, he must just live with the fact that he can`t race single-handed, but he chose his boat for different reasons.
If your friend said he was looking for a boat that had a chute, could be sailed with crew, and occasionally without, and didn`t weigh 300 lbs, would you still tell him that F16 is a bad choice.

You probably would.

Cheers
Steve