No one ever said go grab a large thing like a 700 and let rip - that would be utterly mindless. I did on the other hand state that I started with a 'small' collective pitch heli (a RTF one, but a 450 CP heli none the less).

As for going right into the 50 nitro, I don't think I said that either. I did state i moved (progressed) onto it from the 450, but what I didn't state is that was 6 months down the line from starting with the 450, once my skill set was high enough to warrant the move up to something that dangerous. So please, don't make out like I'd EVER be careless or stupid enough to point someone at a monster like a 700 first up, as that is just way out of line.
As for doing specific 3D moves with my heli's, while I have dabbled, I'm just not into 3D as I opt to fly for myself, and never for anyone elses benefit (I'm a grown man and don't need pats on the back from my friends every five seconds just to survive) - well that and having a retarded bumble bee of a model that wants to take my head off is not me. Precise scale flight is more my thing if you must know.

As for flying of any kind, for me it has always been about 'progression', it's one of the key things I love about the hobby, your always 'progressing' with something. My 56" Yak54 was deliberately set up to fly like a low wing trainer, as after my original trainer was crushed in an earthquake, the Yak was brought to allow personal progression at the flick of a switch.
Oddly enough, it was 'listening to people' telling me about their own planes flight characteristics that allowed me to set that plane up just as I intended and get out of it what I wanted despite the 'know it all's' around me saying it would not work. Now a few of them ask ME how I made it work.
Now that work commitments allow me time to fly more, the aim, as I actually elude to in my last post, is to work with people at my club to progress on that model. THEN, when I feel happy with that, I'll fly the gas P51 mustang I've been sitting on. Once that's sorted, then I'll move onto the 30cc Sbach I have - you know, progress through each level of model in a thought out manner.
To make sure there is not any misunderstanding, even though I'm quite adequate flying my helis, I'm working through a well thought out process at my club WITH more experienced flyers when it comes to my planes. I do this a I am well aware it's better to do this as it does indeed save you money and time. The reason I didn't use an instructor when learning to fly helis is because I was new to the area I live in, and did not know of any.

So to that end, I agree it is always best to learn with an instructor, their knowledge goes beyond just flying, and covers things like setup, tricks of the 'trade' etc. The simple fact I have gone about this from both angles (helis on my own, planes with help) allows me to point out that just because you may not have been capable of mastering it on your own, does not give you the right to slam others just because they have had no other option than to go it alone. It's indeed doable to learn anything on your own if your capable of studding an following a pre-set and well thought out plan ...... it just that it's not "desirable" when it comes to things that fly if it's at all possible to work with an instructor.