Stephen go get your head checked.
ODBAL, the Spit16 is the simplest overall TnB plane.. The VIII is more stable, but the 16 will obey all your commands almost instantly. The stall departure is a little sharper than the rest of the spits, but you'll still have tremendous controls thanks in no small part to its very light weight, except in the very worst stalls and spins which you find only when you really man-handle the plane. They both have top-tier climbing ability, and the only thing you'll be really disadvantaged in, is level speed. That's not a huge handicap either, since they both hold speed very well.
Welcome back, <S>