My learning curve for hovering (to the point where I was no longer scaring myself and could keep it within a 10 foot circle facing any direction):

1 4D (www.tufflight.com/4d.html)
1 OS 46FX w/ Tower muff
100+ props
G2 sim practice : 1/2 hour every night
4 months flying nearly every day from August to November 2003

(G3 is MUCH better than G2. Wish I had that back then)