I suppose a guy with a tail dragger that has had it a while and flies often would be a pretty good indication that he's an alright pilot in that fact alone.

Reading each post and hearing the horror stories I think I should get my own TW time before hopping in one with a stranger and just completely relying on them. In the supremely odd case scenario that he has a medical emergency and I become PIC I'd hate to get to the airport just to ground loop the plane and make our day even worse. Maybe that's pessimistic but it's certainly hard to weigh the risks and the flight becomes riskier if you're not able to be PIC.

You seem to be using your head for more than just an just a hat rack, well done I say.

In 46 years instructing I only ran into four really scary pilots. Two were worrisome about dinging the airplane, which they did. I have a hard time saying no. Two were worrisome to life. One was incompetent and bull headed so I just got out. The other is a friend as well as former student and also a very competent pilot. I just duck and run. Words have not been effective.