war puts pressures on training systems to push the envelope to get numbers through, rather than focus on the appropriate training for the individual, particularity when there's a queue behind to take the training seat.
Certainly wasn't evident in the USN, could not have been looked after better if they had tried.
resulting in relatively low dual time flown prior to solo
I don't call 15.7 hours to solo a T-34 as low dual time, you had continuity of training, flying every day, save for weekends, outstanding instructors, and you knew what the syllabus required for every flight. After 20 hours in the T-34 it took 10 hours dual before solo in the T-28, which could be argued as excessive, as it was just a T-34 with a lot more grunt. There were no short cuts, just professional training given at the hands of professionals, should you be struggling with particular areas extra flights were awarded, but there was a limit.