I thought the prices students paid in England were bad, I had no idea they were astronomic.
£250/hr all-in? For a R22??
"As for our pay, £30-40 per flying hour is hardly a fortune."
I disagree. I think it's a fortune, and a rip-off. That's the hourly equivalent of about £1400 - £1600 per week.
FI's in America don't earn anything like that, and they don't expect to.
"Briefings are free, and in most places tend to be thorough."
Free? The stude's about to pay £30-40 for the privilege of an hour's instruction. Of course they should be free. And they're only thorough in "most places"??
"So they tend to be career instructors, rather than the airline wannabe hourbuilders and retired folk you get in the f/w world."
Whoa there. I don't mean to be disrespectful Whirlybird, so please don't take it the wrong way, but you've only recently qualified as a FI. What's the problem with the guy/gal who qualified with you and wants to build hours instructing to go on to work as a professional pilot? And what's wrong with "retired folk" with decades of experience to impart? It depends upon the person not why they're instructing.
No wonder so many Brits come to America to do their training.