I agree with init4fun. I call the systems electronic training wheels. I didn't use one as a beginner, but I imagine after a while the SAFE system starts to become annoying just like training wheels do. Yes, absolutely a plane needs more space with SAFE than without since you can't do a hard bank and yank turn. Of course, I always recommend to beginners that if they can see a tree they can hit it, so try to get as much open space as possible. Sure, an instructor is better. But SAFE makes it possible for people to go it alone that wouldn't have been able to before. I'm a fan.