I think it's very important for short field landings to be taught as they give people good handling skills and also teaches people to be precise. Like you say, you're unlikely to ever use a full-on short field approach and landing but I think the point is more the skills it gives you which you wouldn't necessarily get if you were training at a school situated at an airfield with a honking great runway. It reminds me of a certain well-known cadet scheme who said 'we're not really bothered about PFLs because you're never going to land a 737 in a field...............' No s**t sherlock but what about the decision-making ability and other skills which it gives you? Chow for now,
Dan