So some good posts since I last looked in.
For the hard of reading, what I and several other sensible posters were alluding to, is that you [by which I mean "the general reader looking for advice as to how/where to start" - not any specific individual] CAN cut down on the standard 15 months of an integrated course by going at your own pace. Of course you can. However, I would think it very foolish to base any planning around being ABLE to do so. Integrated courses are approx 15 months from start to finish. This is not because the schools have a vested interest in keeping you there longer - in fact in pure business terms, it's MORE in their interests to get rid of you sooner. It's because HISTORY SHOWS THAT'S HOW LONG IT TAKES A NOMINALLY ABLE PERSON TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING SATISFACTORILY.
You - dear reader- may of course be one of those that just finds it really easy and breezes through and in so doing could complete in 8/9 or 10 months. Equally, you could be one of those who REALLY struggles with non precision approaches, or just can't get PFLs right. YOU could be the one who needs 18/19 or 20 months.
The point is I would question the sanity of anyone who without prior indication that they could do it quicker than a normal full time course of study, planned for completing in less than 15 months. Plan for 15 months full time and take it as a considerable bonus if you can complete earlier.
As ANYONE that has trodden the weary path to CPL/ME/IR will tell you, there is a LOT of very hard work ahead of you when you set out. Much of it does not and will not sink in "straight away" - both the flying aspects and certainly the ground school.
This is why *I* think it's probably unwise to be trying to learn what the industry experts (by which I mean just about everyone that offers full time ATPL learning as a course) reckon will take six months of VERY hard graft at the same time as trying to learn to fly a plane. This is why *I* would be very dubious indeed of anyone who said that they'd gone from 0-(f)ATPL in only 8 months.
The simily with cooking is actually quite good. The only additional point I'd make is that all should remember that Gordon Ramsey can probably whip up a gourmet delight in a fraction of the time most of us could whip up bangers and mash....a lot depends on your ability.
Mod or integrated, the best advice you can get is it's about what works for YOU. Just be very sure at the outset that you FULLY understand ALL of the implications of whatever route you tread.