Big Pistons and bear are quite correct regarding the reason for the spate of traumahawk crashes. The build quality was so low, and the wing so flexible (due to the missing ribs) that in some instances the wing would flex into a "not-exactly-NACA" shape during the spin and become unrecoverable (or this is the theory, anyhow).
I recall reading a few years ago a testimonial by a Piper production test pilot that essentially said "You never knew, depending on the airplane. One would be docile, the next treacherous."
They say that the stall strips prevented this by forcing a stall earlier. How this prevents the wing flexing problem is beyond me and I don't spin the beasts.
Oh. And the tail certainly does wag in a most alarming fashion if you stall it.
Having said all of that, its a lovely airplane for x-c work, or if you happen to be Large Sized. And in my humble opinion, teaches a bit more respect for the airplane than Brand C.