some valid points there.
Personally after going through the integrated route, I cannot afford to do fly for enjoyment at the moment, I need to save up to pay back the loan. Is it ideal, no, but its a choice I made to get into the airlines and I dont regret it for one minute. Fingers crossed come the summer my log book will be used again.
This thread was to find out what others thought about this idea as I was thinking of putting together a proposal for the flying clubs. One very valid point that was mentioned was that no two aerodromes are the same and of course there are danger areas around that people need to made aware of which is what the check rides are for.
You are very right though, you get out what you put in, and I have trained with enough people to realise that if you dont work hard, you dont get the results, that comes to both flying and everything.