Interesting observations. A few comments.

It's not at all difficult to learn to make good turns with rudder and elevator only. Remember, there is usually a difference between planes with ailerons and those designed with rudder only. Trying to fly an aileron plane with just rudder will be a bit different. And, as one who learned on a plane without ailerons, I don't think it was any harder.

A decent field charger, that does Lipos, can be had for less than $50 (about the cost of 3 gallons of fuel).

Rubber bands can be recycled (hopefully a holy war on whether this should or shouldn't be done won't start.