There seems to be three themes to engine failures or donkey stops. 1) Fuel supply, 2) atmospheric conditions and fuel supply and 3) oil or oil leak.
Where would the fair parallel be? If it were an old sports car then those guys on those forums and documentaries expect a car in good condition to cause them to pull over often and get their hands dirty.
Is he wrong to fly "so many" long distance flights in a very old aeroplane?
Or is he having too many donkey stops and oil leaks for an old aeroplane? And as he has landed safely without injury to anyone, (and only lost one cub as the donkey stopped 75 miles from shore), does that show above average flying skill?