Was informed a few weeks ago that due to Sept 11th and the Class B restrictions that the VFR transitions had been closed, Heli Shoreline included.
I believe Bravo Helicopters are still operating out of LAX Heliport so there might still be an option in and out.
Orange County is truly a busy airport and alot depends on what you want to do. Airport hop or punch circuits/patterns. If it is the second then you don't want Orange County. It is a small hub of United Airlines and so is a little busy. Waiting for 15 minutes to leave isn't unusual especially if you are a little hesitant.
Helistream is owned and run by Rod Anderson who is an FAA examiner and has been operating Robinsons since the beginning, he also sells them and gets much business through factory recommendations. One of his students went on to be a test pilot for many years in Torrance.
If you choose Orange County you will find yourself flying to Long Beach for pattern training. A 10-15 minute flight each way. Plus on return to Orange County you will find the majority of times that you won't go straight to the helipad......there isn't fuel there!!! So you will land on ground level fuel and then return to the helipad.
But if it is off airport work you want then Torrance and Long Beach hasn't got any within 20 minutes flight time (you fly past Orange to get to it). Torrance too has only one pad.
Long Beach has three heli pads operating between two runways. Unless the wind is from the North/South then only two. Rainbow has been offering Helicopters since Everything Flying became defunct. Dave Parsons was originally at US Helicopters, then EFI and finally set up on his own within Rainbow.
Burbank schools don't do on airport stuff either. It used to be 20 minutes to their practice area. Lots depends on if you are buiding time or want something out of it.
Insurance you used to have to purchase insurance for self fly hire which made it too over the top unless you were doing huge amounts. 30-40 hours.
Really any of them will be perfect. But I say Long Beach.
Hope that helps.