[bdhill1979]

Hells ya.

Understanding aerodynamics helps the student understand the expected outcome of control inputs. Makes them a lot more intuitive.

Trim is everything, especially when coupled with an understanding of aerodynamics, makes for much better command of the aircraft and especially airspeed control.

I definitely pull at least one emergency on every flight. Lately I have been pulling them a lot right in the middle of a ground reference maneuver. High altitude emergency practice really isn't much of an emergency (especially in diamond aircraft; the airfield is 12 miles away, try not to over shoot it)