Ever heard of ground effect?
GE is irrelevant. Merely a reduction in induced drag when closed to the ground. No, it's not an increase in lift, because lift = weight in unaccelerated flight. If lift were greater than weight, the aircraft would be accelerating vertically. (Load factor > 1)
Do that in a PA28 at 500'... well not a good idea for most.
Everyone is quick to say "Oh, that may work in your airplane, but it won't work in an X". Very seldom the case.
Thrust? In a propeller aircraft only during a Vx climb I think, when the difference between thrust required and thrust available is greatest. Its called maximum excess thrust.
Yes. Your point?
Drag exceeds thrust? We are talking about coming down here, thrust does not come into it, we are not flying jets now.
Whether it's jets or props is irrelevent. Your descent angle is controlled via the thrust deficit. Power vs. Power Required controls descent rate.
I find some of your explanations rather dubious Nathan, you even have me confused, never mind your students.
No doubt, but most pilots have a very limited understanding of aerodynamic theory. What I've related is freshman material in any aeronautical engineering course. If you own an aerodynamics text, I'll supply page references.