Thanks for the replies everyone.
I had a feeling that those prices were not exactly 'discounted', even though the University advertised them as "attractively discounted prices"... It's the reason why I said "supposedly discounted prices" in my first post.
I guess I will be giving the PPL course in America a miss then. I'd rather do it here in the UK just to be on the safe side if I ever do manage to go commercial.
One issue I came across today was that I also found out
another problem which could affect me getting a Class 1 Medical.
I saw the thread regarding colour vision, which led me to try the Ishihara test online. It certainly brought some news to me... my eyes have a colour deficiency.
I never even knew I was partly colour blind. I've never even been affected by it, ever! I haven't even got past the eye-sight problem yet, and now I have another obstacle to get over somehow. Sometimes life really is that cruel...