There have been quite a few people since I have joined this forum that have come on here asking a few questions and then claiming they are an exception and have no intention of getting an instructor.
I have seen all kinds of excuses from "I can fly anything" based on a few hours SIM time, to "I don't like people telling me what to do" to, "I can't find an instructor or club" when in most cases a search of the AMA club locator shows a bunch of them.
The one thing almost all of these posters have in common is either they post back asking how to fix their airplanes or we never hear from them again.
Yes there are some people that do learn by themselfs but that is very rare and the ones that did usually went through a number of airplanes and quite alot of money doing it.
On the other hand I have seen a large number of people come on here and did work with an instructor and from those I have heard nothing but success stories.
If you add up the cost of even one major crash the cost of club membership is a real value and almost all clubs provide free training.
Best of luck to you.