Here is my experience: I taught myself on a Top Flite Schoolmaster with rudder and throttle servo; it had a 39 inch wingspan, weighed 20 oz, and was powered by a Cox 049. Later I added elevator. The plane was slow, easy to learn on, and when it crashed there was so little mass to it that damage was minimal to none. Engine started easily by hand, field box was smaller than a lunch box. It was my only plane for about three years and I flew it a lot and loved every minute of it. If I'd had a larger plane it would have been a project every time I went to the flying field. With the little guy, I would just grab it and go. You fly a smaller plane closer in. If something goes wrong, it's not way out in the woods or the corn field, it's close and easy to retrieve. I did not want or need a larger airplane.

Then I joined a club and decided I wanted to do touch and goes. I got a Livewire Champ powered by an OS 15 FP (which started easily by hand), three channels, RET. It had a 590 sq in wing 55 inches long, and weighed 2 lbs 14 oz. I flew it for years and loved it. It did loops, barrel rolls, stall turns, rolling circles, etc., but no cross controlling because no ailerons.

For both these, rudder was operated from the right stick, but with the Champ I had an early computer radio and I programmed it so rudder worked off either stick. That way I got used to taxiing and taking off with the left stick and flew with the right. As a bonus, I had "dual rates" by using both sticks together when I wanted extra rudder.

Finally I started flying aileron planes and the transition was absolutely a non-event. Then I had fun learning to use the rudder for cross controlling, coordinated turns, etc.

But I always flew my first plane with the Cox till it ran out of fuel. I often still do that. I taught me not to fear dead sticks.

For me, the whole process was pure pleasure. There are lots of ways to do it. If a beginner really wants a large plane, then he should go for it. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with learning on small ones. I think the manufacturers sold us a bill of goods with the idea that you need a 40 size trainer. That is complete nonsense. Also, I see beginners putting very powerful engines on these planes. It's OK for dual instruction, but it's not a good thing when the beginner solos and starts flying on his own. I've seen too many inexperienced pilots cause dangerous situations because they move the throttle level and instantly have more power than they can handle. Don't tell me about how power will "get you out of trouble". You can get into a lot more trouble with too much power than too little. And remember, full scale pilots have no where near the power to weight ratio we have, and their butts are in the airplane.