As stated, it doesn't help to belittle the originator. Most will disagree with people telling others to try on their own. Some can do it, most can't. A good sim will help a ton. The problem is you tell someone to go try it on their own for what ever reason, they decide they don't want someone else telling them what to do so they go try it, and they ruin the engine, or radio, or plane because they don't know what they were doing. The other thing they could do is get a finger in the prop or crash down on someone and hurt them like the bonehead that said he flew into the Kmart store trying to learn in the lot or the one that tried in a 45 + knot wind.

Instructors are not monsters trying to rule you. They are people that are trying to help save you time and money. If you don't care what your plane looks like and don't mind flying with an engine that you tore the muffler off and the mounts off within a flight or two, by all means, go somewhere secluded and try it. If you really want to learn the hobby and get good, Get some help and learn it right. Why re-invent everything already known about the hobby when so many good people are willing to help you and save you time, money, frustration and everything else.