Yes, four years ago it was all charged on AirSwitch (good when you consider waiting 20 minutes after calling ready or requesting taxy some times).
WRT the financial arrangements, that's the same deal I had four years ago. $500 to secure the spot (completely reasonable), $3,000 to start flying (again, completely reasonably as it's highly unlikely that they're going to close the doors and flee that night in the time between you paying and burning up the $3k).
I finished on-time and on-budget even though I had to repeat 1/2 of a lesson (I thought it was a good idea to squeeze in a lesson on the same day as a funeral... what was I thinking?); they did their best to shave a bit of time off of subsequent flights to account for the repeated flight.
There are a few motels nearby but don't expect any Hiltons (ask Ad Astral). Maybe pick up a cheap push bike and try to flog it to another student or maybe even take it home if you can't sell it or afford to 'donate' it.
FRQ CB