Dont know what a T-craft is but the piper and Cessna are really nice scale planes (also expensive) and learning on these can be risky i really wouldnt want to crash one of those planes and id never get the guts to have my first landing with a Cessna.
Having a trainer allows you to get the basics of flying wihtout much difficulty. And youll hear this 100 times get an instructor i couldnt even imagine me flying without someone to help me trim and take control when i get to far or in the sun, etc..

Welcome to the hobby/sport/drug/disease, whatever, so far in my 2 months in RC flying its been a blast already got to 2 planes cant even fly one.

Papa