Gomrath.
I sort of agree with it as well but maybe not for the same reasons.
1. The student has a very hard time of it if anything goes wrong miles away from home.
2. The consumer protection isn't what they think.
3. TSA pain in the arse
4. Visa's lock you into a single school and if they decide to be difficulty you can get royally screwed.
5. Standard of instruction is the same as EU you get very bad all the way up to very good but see point 4. You have no option but to endure bad instruction which maybe because of personality clashes.
6. Insurance both medical and renters insurance.
7. Fine print. All the JAR schools have it down to an art and if you decide to sue them they will cancel your visa and get you thrown out.
8. The whole ball ache of getting paper work sorted out if you get knocked back for license issue.
Once you step away from the sausage factorys things do get better but then you have issues getting a visa etc.
Cheapest in the US for JAR schools is OBA at 5k UKP but as anyone who has been there before will know the cost can escalate quite rapidly. You add on the renters insurance, additional days, flights, medical insurance, TSA, airport transfers there isn't much in it.
And of course you only get the headline price if you pay everything up front.
And if you do you better pack some of this
So if all goes to plan you may get a saving but alot don't and don't really enjoy the experence of learning how to fly