I noticed the Wizard uses a wooden launching thingamabob instead of the fingerhole.Why?

Stephen,

The simple answer is market preference. A lot of folks prefer the peg type handhold instead of the fingerhole, they feel it gives them a better grip. The way we designed it you can also use it for a towhook mount for Hi-start launching (something we got a LOT of requests for), without interfering with its function for hand-launching.

You can also use the old trap-door fingerhole like on the earlier Monarchs if you prefer. The fingerhole weakens the fuselage a bit more, but it's probably not as prone to letting you pull downward at the end of the throw the way you can with the pegs (this error in technique breaks a lot of wings, and rips a lot of pegs out of fuselages. Make the pegs thicker with extra balsa on top to prevent this). Drag wise, the air leaking around the edges of the trap door probably causes about the same amount of drag as the pegs, unless you go to fanatical lengths to make edge seals for the door (flaps made from pieces of toy balloons, perhaps?). In the end, it all comes down to a matter of personal preference.

Don Stackhouse @ DJ Aerotech