Flack-
I will beg to differ with you on the value of the flight time flying to the Canyon and back. However, I will agree on the stay away from Vision part. I think your getting confused with Air Vegas on the 5000 part though. They at least they pay you while you fly. Vision is the full blown PFT scam. You buy a block of time and you fly. At least you can legaly log it because it is true SIC time, you just have to pay to play.
Now, back to the value of the time. You take off from a hot, and I mean hot, 4000+ ft. high airport with dust devils everywhere, in the middle of nowhere with nothing but cliffs all around you and only one way out. If thats not bad enough, put your airplane at gross weight. You will reconcider your statement.