I have to agree with JohnBurke!

Yes the "hours" matter, but people lose focus on the experience you need to gain during those hours.

I do see both sides however, so there's not any finger pointing here.

So my basic breakdown is;

1: lowest avg RPM setting per hour, so that could be slow taxi/time to runway(although least productive in experience gained)

2: pattern with full stop taxi back......some good experience hindered by taxi back

3: XC at L/D Max: slow, but most efficient cruise setting. Add a challenge of identifying checkpoints and off course deviations, amending your destination enroute, etc....

4: using #3 to get somewhere new, then practicing pattern there. Go to an airport you heard was a challenge, take the trip and make it a destination.

5: grab 2-3 friends and share the cost to go somewhere fun. They don't need to be pilot friends, take family, etc... Preferably you need to be comfortable with where you are going, and I highly recommend early in the morning or late afternoon if you have new flyers for less connective turbulence. This way you can run normal cruise settings also.

Take any of these scenarios, change your Wx mins, night flying, crosswinds, whatever you want to advance your skills. That is all I ask is you try to make the most out of each hour you are in the air