RE: Learn to Fly without an instructor
Good on you JD,
Some people can work things out for themselves, some people have to be taught, that's how people are.
Generally the ones who live in the country with few people around, have to figure it out for themselves and the ones in the cities (or close to) just have to do what they are told, (for other people's safety). - but with the benefit of simulators, the right plane and a bit of commonsense, it's not really too difficult.