Before you go Paul just one more quick question:
Is that sport becoming as popular in England as it is here in Canada.
It is the price of Insurance and maintenance that is pushing the Recreational or Private Pilot here to look at ultra lights.
Cheers...Happy Landings....Doug
Hi Doug...!
...definately...!
For all of the reasons you mentioned....!
It took off in the early '80's, involving a lot of unfortunate deaths, but today they are much better built and much more reliable.
And their performance easily matches, or even out-performs a Cessna 152 at a fraction of the cost...

...!
Note that a lot of the "cheap? spam-cans" are reaching the end of their life now.
Ultralights/flexwings/3-axis microlights can be flown on a simpler, and cheaper PPL, (VFR only), radios optional, and operated on a "permit to fly".
80% of amateur pilots cannot afford to fly Group A aeroplanes anyway, (youngsters note!).
A flexwing similar to the one in my pics can be purchased, second-hand, for around
Win 8.1 64-bit. DX11. Advent Tower. Intel i7-3770 3.9 GHz 8-core. 8 GB System RAM. AMD Radeon HD 7700 1GB RAM. DVD ROM. 2 Terra Byte SATA Hard Drive. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Saitek Cyborg X Fly-5 Joystick. ...and a Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower.