All flying schools must be having tough times and anyone who says they aren't, or targets one, is dodgy. I have no involvement in aviation, other than as a customer, and my 'PPL recommendation' was purely general.
The rather obvious reply to 'Gone West' is:
More competition (reduced demand), cheaper fuel, instructor pay cuts etc. must mean lower training prices. Also, if you are going residential, accommodation costs lower, because of reduced travel and tourism, and, if you decide to train abroad, lower flight costs.
I recommend PPL now simply because it must be an excellent time to train but you won't have the current Wannabe nightmare of competing- for almost no pilot jobs.
I'm unconcerned about whether, or with whom, you train- just look in Flyer and Pilot and choose if, what and where you please.
Apparently well qualified Brit., in USA and mouthy, so where, or for whom, does 'Gone West' work or do business? Is it legal?