Sport Aircraft (manufacturers are phasing out the word "light") offer some real advantages over existing two place aircraft.
I am building a Zenith 601xl. Compared to a Cessna 150, the 601xl is 4 inches wider, 28 knots faster, carries 30 gallons of fuel, luggage can be 100 pounds while carrying two 170 pound people. I have several options on how it is maintained and condition inspected. The two most common engines used with the sport aircraft do not require the pilot tinkering with the lean/rich mixture. With the wing loading the 601xl should feel the same as the 150 as far as being bouncy in turbulence.
If flown by a pilot with a PPL, then sport pilot restrictions do not apply.
