I disagree that the lithium technologies should be reserved for those with some experience. The charging process takes plugging in one extra lead and learning how to push a couple of buttons to select the right voltage and charging current. Otherwise, the charger does all the work so the experience level of the user doesn't matter. The only two negatives I see for beginning pilots to go the LiFe route is that they have to buy the right charger immediately which costs some money, and if they forget to turn off the power switch one overnight discharge can ruin the battery while a NiCd will charge right back up no problem. A lost plane finder installed in the plane will keep the latter from happening though, since it freaks out whenever the power is on and there's no transmitter signal.