Gliding clubs don't operate as most flight schools do. You're not a client paying for a service in a Gliding club, you have to be there early in the morning, you have to give a hand, you can even be expected to volunteer for secretarial tasks, IT, etc.
The main advantage of a motorglider, compared to a glider, is that you can operate it on your own, just like a 172. It's a selfish aircraft compared to a glider, and selfish flying is not what soaring clubs do.
Most motorgliders are operated by gliding clubs, that's why it does not work.
When I email a flight school to get a trial lesson, on Microlight, tailwheel, or whatever, I get an answer right away. The people at the flight schools welcome business.
Gliding clubs are not looking for business:
- Booker doesn't train for TMG rating, although they operate a TMG;
- Oxfordshire Sportflying at Enstone Aerodrome never returned my Emails;
- Lasham don't operate their TMG until next year;
etc.
You just can't get a TMG rating as easily as a SEP rating, because people who operate TMG's don't operate as flight schools do.
And yet TMG's are a lot of fun compared to a SEP: when the air is unstable, instead of an uncomfortable flight in a 172, go soaring in a TMG. I still don't understand why flight schools don't operate TMG's together with SEP