Crab: The world's best racing drivers always started in karting. They learn how to get the most from an underpowered machine with a compromised drivetrain and chassis.
It might be a good idea for all heli pilots to start in the same fashion. It could be argued that many heli accidents have their roots in "bad energy management" - be that the machine's energy or the energy of the wind. Learning to fly the R22 inside its envelope develops the skills of any helicopter pilot.
It was never designed or marketed as a training machine, but has obviously ended up as such. Personally. as I pay for all my flying, I cannot imagine a more cost-effective developer of my skills than the R22. It teaches you stuff you don't even feel in a more advanced machine.
Even now that I have moved on to the R44, I keep my training up on a 22. And every Instructor I've ever met has said that learning to fly the 22 makes you a better all-round pilot.
The best money I ever spent in flying was the instrument training course on a 22 - an immense challenge.
KennyR: Tens of thousands of EOLs have been practised in the 22 = most without incident. Get it right and you're a good pilot. And - there's no such thing as total safety over congested areas. Or anywhere else for that matter.