RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
Sticks are pretty easy to land. Everything lands faster than a Nexstar, I think.
Sticks are high wing, fully symetrical airfoil, some have a slight dihedral and some don't. Can be aerobatic and docile at the same time.
I prefer taildraggers. Easier to land than tiicycle but slightly more difficult to take off, in my opinion. Tricycle gear are for trainers and jets.