at one with said equipment
Exactly.
I have observed over my decades of operating all manner of machine, that there are four major phases of the operation of a machine:
Machine is not operating/being operated = very safe
Machine operating normally, with a wide margin of safety all the way around = safe for trained person to operate.
Machine operating in the range beginning at "abnormal" but not exceeding any design limitations (could be headed that way though) = the "trained" person might be outside their comfort zone, and headed for trouble, but the person who is "at one" with the machine might still be in a safe operating range, because their training and "oneness" is compensating for the otherwise abnormal conditions.
Machine operating beyond limitations, or in imminent peril = only former race drivers have a hope of recovery.
Every pilot qualified on a class of aircraft should be very comfortable in any part of the second phase, and able to just touch into the third phase with self assuredness. If, however, they recognize that being well into the third phase causes real fear, or reduced performance, they must either self limit to always stay out of those types of operations, or seek lots more training. A quick bit of refresher training is not going to do it.
a 45 hour PPL course does not come near providing enough opportunity to expose a student to everything they should know to be safe. Those students who rush to their first solo, and try to do everything in the minimums, are just cheating themselves, and increasing the risk to their passengers. Stalls are just one of the many types of operations which should be trained well, and practiced regularly. It's not so much the need for the pilot to be able to stall and recover well, but much more the ability of the pilot to be able to operate in phase three with enough confidence that they can get safely back out, without letting things get worse, or freezing with fear. They need to be at one with the equipment....