John - the TOC practice plane was not an experiment-I mentioned it as an example of how very lightly loaded stuff is easier to control - no matter how badly it is fu--ed up.
As for tiny tails - gliders have very small tail groups - but long levers of course.
Years back - we went to 25% tail groups on pattern stuff - to gain the stability - but on the current TOC and good IMAC stuff - we have cut back to around 20% volume and pretty well left the scale moments intact-
The wings get clipped - on some -not on others -
Different style flying - -more departure maneuvers.
As for the "neutral balance" stuff- -good for tumble bug - lousy for precision. -----and wing loading - well I never saw a good aerobat -in any scale- with ballast on board - cept for gliders --