Got my PPL when I was 33. I got it in the minimum time after ATC gliding when I was 17. I thought that getting it at the minimum was the norm!
I felt that I was a normal pupil, but I always had the same [brilliant] instructor, and we clicked both on a learning and personal level. I guess that helped. Maybe it's rather harder these days, but I spent an awful lot of time sittng in armchairs at home flying circuits, going through checks, and studying. It helps to know what your upcoming excercises entail so that it's in your mind before you reach the field. I did eat, sleep and breath it whilst learning, and, I have to say in all honesty, that I had little difficulty with it. Like most casual PPL's, gave up with 200 hours in the book. It took too much time away from my family. Surprised by IO's post saying minimum was rare.