Bigpants and DCF
Agree with your points. Small point of order - I was on Paul Gay's course and don't think he would be considered as a wxxxxr or up for the chop, either or both of which could be misconstrued from yr posts.
As for being punched by a QFI, my German F104 exchange QFI used to do this on occasions, suggesting that I could do with more muscle there to help counteract the g force in his aeros. I liked him, so put up with it without too much fretting.