Beagle,
I don't see what your problem with DABEL is,
it is a simple way of remembering what to do in the climb, your second post just confirmed the requirement for DABEL by mentioning all the elements covered within the neumonic.
It is a perfectly acceptable way of ensuring a low hours student who is fairly close to capacity, in his early training covers those bases.
Of course the Cx's are broken up by looking out of the window.
I agree with the clearing turns method - although a lot of students that I see do tend to lower the nose for look out.
Just because something wasn't invented by the balloon corps doesn't make it rot, nonsense or drivel!!!