As a pilot, albeit a low-timer compared to most here, I am at least as impressed by the slow-to-mid speed SMOOTH aeros of the likes of Bob Hoover. It's precision that impresses me, not scary antics. The things he could do while maintaining mild positive G are SO satisfying to watch.
I once watched a guy recover from a spin inside a ditch, below the runway elevation, and while it gave me a lot of respect for the airplane (which had every right to snaproll at that high AOA), I immediately vowed to avoid any airshow flown by that idiot. He was later killed when a stabilizer brace was found cracked during inspection; he decided it was unnecessary so he
removed it.
