Hard to tell microlights from 'real' aeroplanes as the *shrug* probably indicates your view. A lot of 'real' pilots fly microlights and enjoy doing so. After all, they too are real aeroplanes, subject to the same aerodynamic laws.
Easy to tell microlights from 'real' aeroplanes, just fly them like ´real´ aeroplanes and you will see the difference, unfortunately you will not be able to tell anyone anymore...
The accident statistics for microlight are really bad, for example in Germany they are 8 times more deadly per flight hour than motorgliders !
Just lost two friends in the last two years in microlight crashes of aerplanes, that really looked and felt like a ´real´ airplane, except for some minor flaws... Nearly all pilots killed in microlight crashes in the last years were experienced pilots that flew serious airplanes for decades.
Don't fly an ultra-light
I fully support this statement !
but on the other hand, if you do smoke, the probability that cigarettes will kill you is higher than the probability that a microlight will kill you.