Flying for 5+ years now. Here's my experience:
I started out with a TT 40 size trainer. Before that I was messing with a simulator that was controlled by the mouse. That tought me that orientation part. I flew that trainer twice with an instructor and soloed after that. After a few months I was flying the trainer upside down around the field, pulling hammerheads with ease, and doing every stunt that I could possibly think of. I even tried to get it to do pattern flight. Didn't work.
My second plane was a mid-wing jumping geo that some old guy had build. I chose that plane because I wanted something that turns sharper and performs tricks better.
With the trainer, I ripped off the firewall many times. That was the only damage I did to it.
The only thing that ever got damaged on the geo was the covering and recently on a aileron cuz a dog attack.
My advice is fly the trainer until it is very easy to land. I disagree about making sure the plane is extremely stout. Ask an instructor if you can try his different planes. If you like one...