I agree... that has the side effect of making every flight seem like an exam
instead of a lesson. You ask a question, and instead of an answer or a hint,
you get "What do you think?" I understand that the instructor's job is to
simultaneously instruct and assess, but sometimes we just need an answer to
the question. Maybe the test-to-question ratio should go up dramatically as
you approach solo and flight test, but early on we need to be able to ask
and get answers.

That's why I've been doing some practice on a flight simulator program,
although I realize there are many drawbacks to it. It's a way to get some
practice time alone, to figure some of that stuff out.

You will learn more & better what you figure out on your own, than
what somebody tells you.
...

That's what it seems like they're doing. I have no doubt it works,
but there are times when I think it would be so much easier to not
have to figure it out on my own. But I also acknowledge I'm a newbie
who's just past the completely cluless stage.