I disagree, and it's where the analogy holds. It's nothing to do with speed: Faced with a potential accident the average driver plants their right foot on the middle pedal, closes both eyes and leaves two black lines leading straight to the scene of the accident. Having racing past (car handling ability) will start with the basic 'eyes open, evaluate', and include the ability to control the car, perhaps going round the problem, or through a soft spot in the hedge etc. It gets over the 'panic, suprise' reaction that's prevalent if you've never seen anything like that before.
I couldn't have said it better myself!
It is unhelpful to a student's (including new PPL's) progress to leave that person thinking that they have demonstrated adequate skill, and no more skills developement is needed. With driving skills beyond those of the "average" motorist, accidents can be both avoided and prevented - speed need not be a factor. Similarly, with calm deliberate piloting in the face of many uncommon flight circumstances, flying accidents can be prevented. The awareness of a spin is just one of many examples of how a "new" pilot must be pushed a little, if for no other reason than to make that person aware that prevention and recovery
are possible, and it's something to aspire to.
I once watched an excellent demonstration of airmanship, in a Bell 206. The pilot made a perfect hovering pedal turn exactly about the tail rotor. During my helicopter training, I aspired to this. My instructor told me this was not required for the flight test. I told him it was required for my own sense of confidence in flying the helicopter with adequate precision. He agreed, and encouraged my practicing.
New pilots must have higher skill set to aspire to. Proper aircraft handling in unusual attitudes is a very good objective. Spins are a very appropriate example of unusual attitudes, with real world applicability.
Pilot DAR