MJ - yes, glass is so much easier. A quick session is more than enough for the basics, but if you haven't got the basics you will be all over the place with steam gauges.
I cant help but feel those that have learnt on glass (and there are quite a few these days) need to do a "steam gauge" rating before let loose on anything else.
This thread is quite fun isn't it - albeit seems to be everything that is going on, on PPRuNe these days.
