I had no problems learning on the PTS, but that said I agree with you.

An instructor is crucial for success with this plane.

However with an instructor a novice can do fairly well with it, provided that the instructor is not too quick to remove all of the training aids...

IMHO the only thing that should be changed initially is the prop.

The brakes offset the ballooning from the flaps and the droops add lift so the effects of a deadstick are not tragic.

The plane is designed so that in the first stage all of these are used at the same time. Many are too quick to pull everything off.
My instructor did not. He flew the plane first, noted that it would do better with a different prop, swapped it out and let me fly.

Now I'm instructing...