I think your description is pretty accurate. Contact Sears for your license!
I thought maybe this was one of the annual short takeoff and landing contests in AK. There are lots of YouTube vids. Highly modified airframes, engines, props, tires, etc. Not a few bold pilots. The advantages are obvious when you need to get into the very small "runways" in that rather mountainous state. The only 'state-wide' transportation'system' up there is the air, which, fortunately covers 99.999% of the state!