The 741 has quite a few current mirrors for bias/gain, so the bias points would be much more sensitive to transistor parameter mismatch than to wiring neatness.

The 741 has quite a few current mirrors for bias/gain, so the bias points would be much more sensitive to transistor parameter mismatch than to wiring neatness. Also, discrete PNP transistors tend to be different from the lateral PNP's in a bipolar transistor IC process. I suppose the value in ordering such a kit is that the devices shipped are pre-matched etc, so the hobbyist may reasonably expect a first-pass success. The 741 is dominant-pole compensated, so even if there were wiring-related phase shifts at high frequencies there will be no loop gain in that region to cause instability.