The principles of training edge wing flaps are the same for all aircraft so equipped, though there are more factors involved with high altitudes and fast (jet) aircraft. The jet aircraft aspects of the discussion do not really belong in the Private Flying forum, though the subject of the use of flaps for a high speed descent could also apply to smaller general aviation (GA) aircraft. It is a good thing if "private fliers" are simply aware of other factors, such as mach speed effects, leading edge flaps, and true emergency descents (usually for depressurization reasons), just for increased knowledge, even though they don't really apply to GA.
Certainly with smaller numbers all the way around, the OP's observations could be relevant to GA aircraft operations. A high speed descent with flaps out can do damage, and I have had a broken flap track on a Cessna 180, which presumably was the result of a previous flight in that aircraft when damage was done.
Posts on the GA aspect of flap use and high speed descents would fit well into this thread. Jet aircraft operations, less so....