I am just in the process of using OATs for the ATPL groundschool (Distance) but will carry on Modular for the rest. It was down to them and Bristol and OATs won on convience to get there in the end.
I have to say its an interesting argument but one thing is Gareth is talking out of his @rse with his Oxford/Cambridge and ex-poly analogy! I have interviews lots of applicants for my profession (engineering before you ask) and we have have hopefuls come through the door with 1sts on paper. When you talk to them you find out that if that if isnt exactly how they have been taught or how it reads in the text book then they go to pieces and cant cope!
So coming from a Uni or somewhere with a top class name doesnt count for anything at the end of the day ... it comes down to can you PERSONALLY deliver!