FYI: I learned how to fly in a Super Stick 40 w/OS 46 ...

Before learning how to fly planes, I had been flying helis for a while and only ~15 hrs on the sim time where enough to put me though my 1st solo flight w/o trainer cord without "accidents" .... this was on my first plane flight ever.

Again, the above was ME ... as I have also witnessed several pilots who have been flying planes long before me and still can't even do inverted circuits (about 2 or 3 years ago)

I have an Ultra Stick 40 among my fleet and I must agree it flies better than any other trainer and can become wild upon instruction ! I taught my wife how to fly with this plane (and with an Avistar which she dumped as soon as he got a hand in my US) and the ONLY problem I see with it is that to enjoy its full potential one MUST invest more money than what the standard trainer would cost ... it would be absurd if someone flew a US with a cheap 4 ch radio

Either way, I believe its a very subjective issue and should be left to each individual to decide.