My instructor(s) did much more than saving my plane a few times. They taught me how to trim the plane (there is more to it than having it fly straight and level), how to fly smooth, how to do loops (it's not just pull the elevator all the way back til it's done 360 degrees) and other aerobatics, engine tuning, engine and plane safety, covering, how to build light and straight, etc. I feel sorry for students who think an instructor is just there to "save the plane".