Not sure where you saw that quote but here it is in full and they've just decided to be selective about what to use !!!!!!!!!

But part of what makes it such a success as a beginner’s airplane – its slow, almost casual way of flying – also works against it if there’s much of a breeze out. Also, it certainly is not what anyone would call a precise flyer. Flying a Slow Stick is more a collaborative effort between the pilot, the airplane and the wind than direct control by the pilot.

So while it is good for teaching the rudiments of controlling an R/C model (and it is an amazingly flexible platform for all manner of kit-bashing), when it’s time to move up to full four-channel control, or fly under less-constrained conditions, it leaves something to be desired. Further, its casual manner is not ideal for teaching how to be in control of the airplane and making it do what YOU want to do at all times rather than just steering it around approximately where you want it to go. A lot of low-time pilots want to jump directly from the Slow Stick to something like the GWS warbirds, but going straight to a low-wing aileron-equipped warbird is a bit of a stretch for most folks.

The link for thw hole write up is http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=571116

In all honesty I don't think it's that much further forward from what you've got and if you have a hard landing I can't see it taking it that well !!!!!!!!!!!!!
At the riskk of sounding like a broken record but as I've been there myself I really would look at the Minimag, I needed it to get endless flight time and had tried more advanced having flown th swift and destroyed it I then tried a Ultrafly PC9 and an Art-Tech Mustang both of which I reduced to rubble in no time at all before goimng back to the Minimag on advice from an instructor. The only downside I can see is if you fly a lot again you'll be like me and in 3 months wanting the next stage up as it again becomes a bit mundane although I had moved all the throws up could roll / slow roll, fly it inverted a ong way (it doiidn't want to stay inverted though and is hard to hold there) but before I moved up I got to the stage I knwo I was in absolute control of the plane (on higher rates) and for want of a better description was able to lioterally thrwo it aroubd in the knowing if I got it wrong I could bring it back to level flight. Unfortunately you're not ready to move up a peg until you get to that stage and to skip a level it's probably going to be expensive simply because you end up having to go back to thej step you missed unless you're very lucky.
Only other suggestion may be a Muliplex Gemini but again I wonder is it's step too far bu if you've got FMS find the dowloads for some really sensitive planes like the E-Flight Mini Funtana and Mini Edge and the Extreme Flight Extra 300 and have a few hours with those you may be able to then skip a level.
AJ would ove to hear any more on the Formosa, I've just bought an Acromaster which is fantastic but the flight times really short and it's a big plane to put in the car, would ideally like something smaller that can go in with wings on and can take anywhere and keep the Acro for close to home, how aerobatic is it, could it 3D / prop hang, what engine / batteries did you have and waht was the flight time approx ??????
Sorry to put my own question into someone else's thread but the answers may help you to decide if it's a plane you could cope with or not !!!
Cheers,
Neville