[Vespasian]

Disclaimer: Highly biased of course ;)

Speaking as a glider pilot in training, its hard to beat the feeling of winch launch or the rising in a thermal column. Flying small planes connects you to the elements while still leaving you in control (if everything goes well). To me its the perfect combination of technology and outside activity.

[omegant]

I'm comercial pilot with 9000+ hours of A320, B737, and MD80. Every time someone asks me about getting the Private pilot licence, I point them to a glider course. The airmanship and the experience is so much pure and intense in a glider. Also the costs are much lower for the weekend airman.

[rurounijones]

Amen to that, your first successful solo flight is something everyone remembers.

It is just fun!

Regarding the elements bit: The first time I went solo the only reason I stayed up for more than 15 minutes was finding a large bird (kestrel maybe) circling in a thermal and joining it. You don't get much more "with the elements" when in the air than that (Hang gliders excepted).