Mercenar pilot,
I agree wit you, it is all BS.
well, it is printed black on white that an M1 visa is required. Write to the TSA, and tell them their procedures are BS!
and have fun at the custom when they will send you back home if they find out you are not coming as a tourist but as a student...
"any alien who is permitted to enter the United States on a B-1 or B-2 visitor's status visa is prohibited from enrolling in a course of study. Such an alien must an either obtain an F-1 or M-1 non-immigrant visa"