I actually believe that the Hobbyzone Super Cub could be used to teach yourself to fly, even with no help or no previous experience. I think the Parkzone Slo-V is also slow and stable enough to allow an uninitiated pilot the chance for success. I just think that it's much, much easier to learn to fly in a club setting, and that unknowing shoppers looking for their first planes aren't going to be drawn to the Super Cub or Slo-V.

The simple truth is that many folks interested in RC flying don't even know that flying clubs exist, and some other folks would rather just toss around an electric RTF at the park than go to a club because they feel ackward or uncomfortable asking strangers for help.

There is a legitamite market for a true beginner's teach-yourself-to-fly plane, and the Slo-V and Super Cub are as close as I've seen to this ideal. I think the safety considerations involving glow planes and larger electrics (Electristar, e.g.) prevent them from ever being well suited for teaching yourself to fly.

Don't judge your LHS too harshly. I was sold an Aerobird Challenger as my first plane, and it was not a pleasant experience. I later discovered that almost none of the staff at the LHS were pilots, they all ran RC buggies or trucks. They were told that the Aerobird Challenger was a great beginners' plane, and they believed it to be true. Experienced RC pilots often know volumes more about the aircraft-related products at the LHS than the staff does.