very typical of my instructor, who believed he
could fly any plane in any conditions -- and often did.


Am I wrong, but hasn't the FAA in recent decades sought to develop flight
instructors who were good teachers, not hot shot pilots who could fly anything
with wings in any conditions??

I haven't instructed in YEARS, but when I went for my CFI and CFII check rides,
they were more interested in my teaching skills than my flying skills.