Aerocat and rmcdonal you are both right on that and it is how the vast majority of the flights end up taking place, but that doesn't mean one can get complacent.
The reality is that most people with a fresh instrument rating, and quite a few with more experience, will put you in some sort of danger when attempting their first few night circling approaches and black hole takeoffs. Unusual attitudes are not that unusual!
I'd say about half of the trainees will need either a take over or some very firm advice on their first flight or two. Instructors will be used to letting the situation go as far as possible before intervening, but for the non-instructors it could be a bit of a challenge to let the person make the mistakes and learn from them.