Even Frank said that the R22 was never designed to be a 'trainer'
The 269/300 was - originally for the US Army - who trained over 30,000 pilots and did some 3 million hours in them - sophisticated fully articulated rotorhead and proper crash protective undercarriage. The 300'C' in particular also has lots of power and superb handling. Just ask Dennis K.
If you want to go turbine, the Enstrom 480 was also designed as a trainer and much of the above also applies. Very safe and easy to fly.