Actually, what made the Spitfire such an amazing plane was that it was aerodynamically stable enough for KIDS to fly them in defense of their country... so, Spitfires really WERE for kids, as were most American planes...
They did not apply to the Spit XIV. We're talking about the very much different Spitfire I/II, and yes guys were going operational with 20 or less hours in them, mainly out of desperation during the tail end of the B of B. Johnnie Johnson, who ended up high scoring RAF ace had roughly 20 when he went to his first squadron.
Spit XIV was not that kind of bird.