Well . . . your instructor is pretty accurate - but this entire conversation is a classic case of personal opinion...

#1. A "Field Charger'; is not required unless you show up at the field with an uncharged plane or transmitter and you want to fly. OK Pop the hood of your car do a quick charge and away you go. However; if you are a regular flier (A working sort of guy that flies on weekends etc) you charge up the plane the night before and you have NO PROBLEMS - or need for a field charger. IMHO. [8D]

#2 A "Buddy Box"; is an invaluable tool - while learning. Once you have soloed it is a usless item. The local club that you belong to should provide one (that's the way it has been in all the clubs that I ever belonged too). [8D]

#3 "Some Sort of Contraption to restrain the AirCraft ... " Buy a 6-12" Screw driver, stick it into the ground, get 6' of 1/4" nylon rope tie a loop on each end of the rope, put both loops over the screw driver now loop the main length of the rope over the Rudder & Stab - the plane is now secured.

#4 "A Timer"; $3 - 5 at the local hardware store in the kitchen accessories section will buy you a great little digital timer it will count up or down and beep at you most annoyingly when your time has expired. Set it to a time that is less than your fuel load and land shortly after the alarm sounds - this will prevent dead stick landings.