Mxsmanic wrote:

Piston-driven aircraft are much less reliable and so engine failures are much
more likely to occur. But still, practicing them in the real aircraft is
dangerous and potentially expensive. If they aren't handled correctly, you
(potentially) write off the aircraft, and perhaps the pilots as well.

Do you have the slimmest of clues here?

Have you ever read how to conduct engine-out
training in a real GA aircraft, let alone
experience it?

Engine-out training is typically done by pulling
the throttle to idle, not shutting down the
engine.

In the pattern, the drill is conducted all the
way down to a dead-stick landing, at least by
my instructor.

In the country, the plane is flown down to about
50-100 feet off the deck, depending on terrain
and obstructions, followed by a climb-out and
evaluation of landing site selection and approach
speed and altitude.

Engine-out training is one of the most interesting
and satisfying flight training drills there is.
I've never felt that it's particularly dangerous.
But then, I fly and you don't.

Does the curriculum specify engine-out training by shutting an engine off
completely?

I thought you knew all about it? Why in the
hell do you vent your silly-assed opinions
then ask the most basic question after you've
made a fool of yourself?

There's not much difference in drag between
a prop in front of an idling engine and a
stopped engine, at least not on my plane.