What do you think about the riding modes? Do you find them useful?

I agree with ya, change modes when you're ready & confident. They're too much coin to be throwing them down the road.
Sport mode, traction control = off. This has to be set each time I use the bike, any way to make this the default?
 
Sport mode, traction control = off. This has to be set each time I use the bike, any way to make this the default?
Only in Rider mode. But you can set Rider mode to be "Sport with TC off" and use that instead of Sport mode.
 
The problem with removing the TC is you have to scroll through and switch off every time you start the bike. As far as I know it cannot be switched off permanently
 
The problem with removing the TC is you have to scroll through and switch off every time you start the bike. As far as I know it cannot be switched off permanently
It can be switched off permanently in Rider mode.