35 started on my course in 1985 and 17 finished in 1986. Aaaargh...when I were a lad.........etc etc.
The course is just as hard now as when it was then lads.
What is different is the "governance" B.S. associated with it. Back in the bad ol' days the CFI would scrub you just because he thought your eyes were too close together and he was in a bad mood. Today the justification and paperwork required, coupled with the lack of gumption displayed by some in charge fearing a redress means to actually suspend a poor student is a lot harder.