RE: Dead stick landings
I started out as a glider pilot, so dead stick landings were mandatory. When I took up powered flight, my first landing was still dead stick.
I will second the recommendation to get a flight timer and know how long each plane runs on a tank of fuel and give yourself a reasonable reserve. Now I often like to fly close in and close to the deck, so if I lose the engine, there are few options for good landings.