I suspect N5296 has yet to experience a juicy malfunction
Dead right. Long may it stay that way - fixed or rotary (touches wood).
Newfie... look, I have the greatest respect for working heli pilots and everything you do and the skill it takes to do it safely or even at all. (Not that I wouldn't mind having a chance to try it myself...)
When I said "I found autos tame" I was talking about normal practice autos from 800-1000', not for-real engine failures in a hover at 200'! And I just meant the sensation. I'd guess that for most people, the visuals of their first few autos are fairly terrifying as you plummet earthwards at 2000 ft/min or so. But the Pitts plummets if anything even faster. And still the last 50' are anything but tame.
I practice autos all the time - and love doing it. But 100% agree that all the practice in the world is absolutely not the real thing.