Nearly Man,
Can I ask what "course" you were on when flying your new 172SP? (No, I don't mean "heading" - what training course).
You say you (cut and paste) "had a few bad experiences with other schools...."
So you have flown, at other times, with various other schools in the USA?? You used the plural terms..."a few bad experiences" and "other schools".
This must make OFT at least your third training school "around the area" - and you had an instructor in a single engine aircraft.
I'd also be curious to know if, when your final bill was added up, there was not some error (in their favour) that you caught....even if you did have change left in the kitty when you finally left. You may have had change, but I'm willing to gamble you were not under the advertised budget.