I had just completed an entire
flight without my instructor taking back the controls!

My compliments to your instructor! You don't know how lucky you are. I
had two instructors who did not understand the virtues of keeping their
hands off of the controls. Certain things MUST be demonstrated by your
instructor, and sometimes your instructor must take control for safety sake,
but allowing students to make full "virtual solos" whenever possible is a
real confidence builder.

When it was obviously time for my to solo, I finally had to ask to be
allowed to do that. I did not want to go up my myself without ever once
being allowed to fly a flight from start to finish.

I have to say both of the instructors I have been with have been
great. The 1st instructor let me land on my 1st and 2nd lesson,
although he handled the air brakes and told me when to turn, and when
to flare, etc. This was a huge confidence builder and got me over the
fear of landing. Now I am flying with the full time instructor and
he is just great also.. although a bit more careful. He says very
little unless he feels he needs to which at first was worrying but
I've learned that it's actually a good thing because it forces me to
think for myself.

I regularly practice in Condor (simulator) and i think this has made a
huge difference.

Thanks,
-tom