I flew a small two line stunt kite a couple of times before I started my lessons. Most trainer kites do not fly the same as inflatables so the only things you will learn is steering and the power through the wind window. They are fun but by no means essential.
Ozone make a trainer called an Uno it's 2m2 $300 and runs a standard bar $400 (sold seperately) although dear this trainer is inflatable so any skills you learn are directly transferable ie water relaunch, body drag, launching, landing bar sheeting.
Ocean rodeo also do an inflatable trainers called the rise its cheaper around $400 but the bar is a lightweight version that should only be used with the trainer.

Rent one for a week before your 1st lesson. It helped me get up on the board in my first lesson.

I've been teaching people to kitesurf and power kite for nearly 2 decades now, and without doubt the people who learn and progress fastest are those that learn on smaller, safely manageable kites.
They learn the wind window and their brain learns the muscle memory needed to turn a kite both in an upwards (away from the surface/ground) and downwards direction.
They learn not to fear the kite, and to fly it without having to look at it.

It is not uncommon for people who have previous kite flying skills to be up and riding and to be safe independent kiters after a couple of lessons with our schools.

Schools and instructors that give advice to the contrary are more interested in you coming back for many many lessons with them on their large and often doughy dumbed down "school" kites.

Do yourself a big favour and get a trainer kite. The Ozone Imp trainer kite does fly a lot like a kitesurfing kite, we developed it specifically to be like that and to have a let go of the bar safety system and pull one (middle) line relaunch system. If you have the bucks the Ozone Uno is also an excellent trainer kite, but I would still recommend the Ozone Imp to people who have never flown kites before.

Kitepower Australia said...

and their brain learns the muscle memory needed to turn a kite both
It is not uncommon for people who have previous kite flying skills to be up and riding and to be safe independent kiters after a couple of lessons with our schools.

I understand muscle memory extremely well, which is why I can relate to / and question both recommendations and I came here to ask for more opinions. I am a 'trainer' myself (not in kitesurfing) and have taught people with both the 'real deal' and 'imitations', as well as teaching in different styles (in my industry). When going from one to another method or tool there is always a level of unlearning and relearning. In my professional expereince neither methods I use are better than others, just depends what works best with each individual.

You're an IKO instructor, so I assume your recommendations do carry some weight.

When my son was about 12 and his older brother and I were just learning to kitesurf with the big stuff, he spent many months with our trainer just playing around. When we started to progress he took an intersted in picking up a big kite. He immediately understood the dynamics of a big inflateable kite and quickly progressed well beyond me. He's now 20 and still kitesurfing.

Get a trainer like Steve from KP says. You won't need many lessons as you'll progress quickly. You can always sell it later to the next new guy.

When I decided to take up the sport; I looked on Ebay for a small real kite. I picked up an old C kite. A 5 meter "Best Yarga" for $120. It included a proper bar and lines plus pump for $120.
The idea being it flies like a real kite. Big enough to not be a toy. Powerful enough to throw you if you do something wrong; but too small to drag you all the way down the beach and across the road.
Enough to give you a headstart if you decide to continue.