Notwithstanding Hudson's original comments about briefings, it may be worth noting that the ADF has for years simulated Practice Forced Landings Without Power (PFLWOP) in the CT4-B using approx 11" Hg MAP and half-flap (marked "take-off" on the CT4-B flap selector).
This effectively simulated a power-off glide in the clean configuaration and when the student (aka "Bloggs") wished to lower half-flap they simply closed the throttle and when they wished to apply full-flap "Bloggs" then used the flap lever to select full-flap.
This procedure had the advantage of mitigating (to a degree) the engine cooling effect of idle power (at a glide speed of 75-80 KIAS) and any plug fouling issues that may also arise from prolonged idle power settings.
All in all it was a very well thought out procedure and avoided the rapid cooling of CHTs and the coughing and spluttering that took place during initial power application for the go-around. It also reduced the temperature extremes that the engine was subjected to, and resulted in far fewer cracked cylinders than may otherwise have been experienced during the long term service of the aircraft.
Conduct of PFLWOPs in this way was Standard Procedure at Point Cook and now at Tamworth, where I was introduced to it. Perhaps other members of the Flight Training Industry could learn from this procedure.
It is certainly not "A dumbing down in flying schools" - instead it acknowledges a major issue during the operation of any piston engine aircraft (engine handling/cooling) and provides a sound procedure to deal with it.
Fark!