Well said, aloft. I agree with you 100%.
Looking back in my logbook, I think I've checked out about a dozen people in the straight 182. All of them had their private, and almost all had their instrument rating, and 100 hrs. PIC (our company requirements). They all transitioned from 172's, and only a few of them transitioned smoothly. Most of them were behind the airplane, and almost all of them had trouble landing on the mains instead of the nosewheel. Not only that, but newer 182's (ours at least) seem to be directionally unstable at high speeds on the ground.
And the whole "military solos their pilots in jets" argument is comparing apples to oranges. Why? Because military students are very dedicated, and I'm sure they read, and study, and prepare for flights. Not to mention they fly often. Out here in FBO-land, students don't want to do any work. All they want to do is fly, and then they only do it once or twice a week at best. They don't study, and they don't prepare. If I had a student that was dedicated and flew often enough, I could probably solo them in a 210 (and then get fired), but I don't.
So, sorry for rambling, but if someone ever comes up to me and says, "hey, I just bought a new 182 and I want to learn how to fly," I am going to run the other way- fast. That is an accident waiting to happen, and thats one logbook that I don't want my sig/# in.