I don't recall cutting down Trainers other people suggest but you seem to cut down the one I suggested & one I have trained with that is still flying today with no problems. Smack anything on the ground hard enough & the landing gear will fly off. We to have a so called traditional trainer The Eagle & my son learned to fly & land with the P51 because the Eagle was to much of a floater & the wind throw's it all over the sky. So the Eagle sets on the shelf with about 6 flights on it & the P51 goes to the field to fly. To each his own. But if you will read the original post from tankie1rtr the question was is a low wing trainer better in a crosswind than a high wing trainer. The answer is still Yes.