I also don't have a problem with the idea of scooting. I remember the terror I felt at something like 5 when my dad ran next to me pushing and shouting "PEDAL" and letting me go, only to crash into a wall, mailbox, parked car or passerby :-(
Without the pedals on to get in the way, I think learning to balance and braking with hand brakes would be a breeze scooting with foot power only. Having pedals to provide motion, dealing with handlebars, and brakes I think is a bit much all at once.
Fred Flintstoning? I like that! I've used the "Chicken Run" term (Rocky Rhodes) the same :-)
On a similar vein, when I teach a person to drive a manual transmission, I step up the idle to around 2k rpm, tell them to use ONLY the brake and just get the feel of the clutch to get the car rolling. They stall the car very few times, and in no time I have them driving.