big battery
I would love to know about the big battery in the engine bay, how is it fitted?, who aproved the mod?, was the aircraft re-weighed?.
It sounds to me that this "mod" is just covering up a problem with corroding battery cables that require replacment (there is a piper SB on the subject).
As to low houred pilots on short strips, perhaps not but the advice is still good for any GA afterall a GA is more likely at a big airfield under a high workload, I know its boring but I still think that the flight manual speeds are the safest way to fly.