I occasionally fly around Colorado Springs in a 160 HP 172S. Last year on a 100 F day flying from Pueblo (4729) to Meadowlake (6874) I was acutely conscious of how much the slightest incorrect amount of elevator or rudder added to drag and stopped the climb (that was only about 100 fpm at best) or risked overheating the engine with the increased power requirement.
That's the stuff that teaches you about aeroplane performance, far more than bimbling around from Redhill. That's when you learn about setting best trim (elevator and rudder) and using fingertips on the controls.