RE: Have I missed something?
IMHO, No.
Perheps it's because I am flying 7 days a week right now, (I need the stick-time), but I do not miss my trainer. I have a Kadet Senior with a .91 on it and although it's quite easy to fly, I just don't enjoy flying it that much. Maybe I will later on, but I'm still new and really enjoying the ride.
If you have a Stick of any kind, you can relax with that...and it will do some faster stuff too. I know trainers will do a lot of stuff that many people don't use them for, but they do it ever so lazily...
Later,
Mark