RE: Welcome to Club SAITO !
A proven piece of technology is never a crutch, A Cline or IronBay regulator is a cure all for set ups that don't even have any issues. It simply makes engines work better from beginning to end of a tank of fuel, I like that piece of mind and instant throttle response you get when you don't have the HS needle set rich at the beginning of a flight so you don't have worry about it going lean at the end. As to the on board glow lighter, the regulator even eliminates the need for that.
Crutches, no way.