Practicing touch and goes(and all that goes with that)as the op says, is the way to go when learning.If you get real good at it you enjoy it a lot more and don't worry about losing it so often.Imac pilots i see have just as much trouble as the guy flying a 46ax trainer and i often wonder why.I liked the op's post simply because it's there to make you think.Most discussions i hear around the club are about new gadgets and techno wizardry for their latest plane,and they seem to go thru a lot of aeroplanes..rarely do you hear a good discussion about basic piloting techniques and you would think you would,after seeing that type of carnage,not to mention wasted time and money.I use a 46 size seagull decathlon with a saito 82 to fly 3 to 6 feet off the ground and practice turning every which way and all sorts of stuff that can take your fancy on the spur of the moment.It keeps you focused on the effects of control movements and teaches smooth flying and energy management..PLUS you sometimes clear the airspace in the immediate vicinity