RE: Dead stick landings
I flew sailplanes for years so it's no biggie.. you get one shot. Of course it's not from an unexpected event though.
I think deadsticks are fun...seperates the men from the boys. The issue is you have to know when to take the walk of shame meaning set it down properly no matter where and when you can make it back to the runway based on your experience with that particualr aircraft, altitued, etc. but how do you get experience if you never dead stick... cut the throttle to idle (assuming its set to not move the plane forward) and practice. That will closely but not fully sim a deadstick landing.