You are completely right when it comes to neglecting FAA-students. "Priority" comes in the following order:
1. Military (South American).
2. Contract (mostly asians).
3. JAA/EASA.
4. FAA.
JAA/EASA is very structured, and have "ground days" and "flight days" throughout the year. In FAA you are at your instructors good grace.
Oh and when I told two of my instructors were fired, that itself is not a bad thing, but it makes you think about what kind of people they employ in the first place. I had the impression it was those who kissed most a** who had the best chance.