Yep, staying out of trouble is a lot better than being able to get out of it. That's an interesting path your took in learning, Buzzard Bait. You started on a very simple plane, what many of us today would call a toy since it's not fully controllable. And to stay on that plane for 3 years? I know guys who were on their second plane after their 6 lesson with a .40 size trainer and on their 5th or 6th before the first year was up. I'm not criticizing either approach. Rather, it's surprising to me that a pilot continued to find such a simple plane interesting for so long. This is so different than the way I try to teach and the way I usually advise new pilots. I go for the quickest route to building skills so that the pilot can be independent and flying any kind of plane he wants ASAP. But I guess as long as the student is having fun and getting stick time in he's doing the hobby and learning as he goes. And that's great too. You've taught me something.