Thud I think that's the problem.
It actually does require more than your normal machine.
Yes if everything works you just pole it like another SEP or for that matter twin with both engines working. Flying a twin with both engines working is pretty straight forward and most PPL's would be able to land one just doing what they would do in the SEP.
Its when there are system issues it bites your bum.
I am pretty sure he would have had no problem, but some of us just have no interest in pushing it like that. Yes we are interested in handling etc. And we like to explore the envelope higher up. But actually the TO and Landing configs and flying aren't really that interesting. We get more out of sitting and watching than doing it our selves. If we want we can do most of it in the upper air anyway.
MAybe all this CRM stuff about, Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware, Liveware has actually sunk in with us.