Robby,
I can agree with what you said about each having their own idea of fun, but looking back at the initial question on this tread it was asking about using the "co-pilot" in initial training for a pilot. I've flown a plane with the co-pilot installed and it was pretty neat to let go of the sticks and have the plane level itself, but I definitely wouldn't use one to teach somebody to fly. IMO the co-pilot would make the trainee lazy in having to level out the plane when they are in trouble. know what I mean?? why worry, just let go of the sticks and the plane will level out. so when does the pilot learn to bring a plane back level and upright?? or do you just keep installing the co-pilot in every new plane you get?? imagine trying to fly a 40% extra or and edge or a cap with the co-pilot in it. I firmly feel that learning to recover the plane is a major part of flying. I am an instructor at our field and whenever I am teaching somebody to fly I will not take control back from the student until the last possible moment. instead I prefer to talk the student through recovering it. yes, they aren't very good at it but after awhile they get the hang of it and before you know it they are soloing.

my 2 pennies worth would be to definitely NOT use the co-pilot for training.

just my humble opinion