I think that this is a hard question to answer. From my experience with a cage, I’ll say this:
– I had my license for roughly two years before I began driving regularly. So even though I occasionally drove during that time, when I got my first vehicle, I was definitely still a beginner.
– I had been driving for more than four years before the first time I experienced my brakes locking up. Had I ever practiced what to do in this situation? No. Was I still a beginner? I dunno.
– I have put more than 100,000 miles on my car driving back and forth between Anchorage and my home on the highway during non-rush hour traffic. Does that mean that I have the skill to deal with Los Angles, NYC, Denver, or Dallas? Definitely not.
It is all a matter of perspective. Even in my car, I still encounter new situations and am learning new things. I don’t think it makes me a beginner, just a life-long learner.