I practiced for a month. Out everyday that I could. Fortunately for me, there is wide open farm fields for me to fly in right out my back door. I took off, landed, and flew the craft completely in Atti Mode. Let me tell you something, it was frightful a couple of times. It happened to me right at the beginning of the learning process. As you fly more and more in this mode, you will gradually gain more skills and confidence to fly in this mode. I learned this before I ever even thought of pictures and video. I am starting to learn that now.
I now, prefer to fly in Atti. It makes me feel like I am in control of the bird and not some program doing it for me. As you say, it's more of an atti-tude adjustment as well. When I need to fly in tighter spaces and I am not comfortable, I will switch to P mode. But I am always itching to pop it back to Atti.
I really think once you get comfortable in Atti Mode, you will fly in that mode as a matter of choice. But even if you don't, when that bad boy jumps to Atti on you, you will be able to control it. Just practice. Like finalfantasyfan says, keep out of the winds at first. Move up in wind speed gradually. I fly ATTI in no more that 15mph. But then again, I only fly in 15 mph or less in any mode.
Good luck, Go for it. You will be glad you did.
Mike