As a student PPL, I aspire to be safe and the type of person who can be entrusted with the lives of others. So, I promised myself that I would study properly for the exams, for example, rather than aiming just to pass. But, let's assume for a moment that most people have at least a degree of self-preservation and yet some still end up being the type of pilot who should take up another hobby. That means they are unconsciously incompetent.
How many such folk get a PPL in the first place? I'm not asking this so I can adopt a stance of indignation. I'm asking because, as a student, I'm trusting my instructor, my examiners etc to protect me from myself. In most skills, there is a stage where one is in the category of being unconsciously incompetent, and that's when you need others to make you aware of the gaps. Right now, I know my skills are limited because it's obvious. I assume there will come a time when I get to a stage where I'm more borderline, and that's the exact time when I want my FI (or examiner) to be very candid about my shortfalls and I'll carry on having lessons until the core skills are solid.
I have been offshore sailing for years and now I take other people's kids sailing for a sail training organisation. It was years after getting my yachtmaster qualification that I was ready to accept the trust of parents who don't know me before they drop off their kids at the marina. I sailed as the 'mate' during that interval and we had a regime where I got feedback after every voyage. I only became a skipper when I had enough confidence to know that I could keep the crew safe in all eventualities. It means I don't have the distraction of being stressed. Some folk take it as a blow to their ego if they aren't made skippers as soon as they get qualified, but the system prevails, at least it does in our organisation. I was rather hoping that this would be the norm for flying. Otherwise,, how does one avoid being the type of pilot who features on the "avoid" list?