To use your expression: "Walking down the red carpet to your PPL" is very much a part of one's training experience. How you start is reflected in how you finish and points in between.
The initial experience emphatically does not come into "ignoring the unimportant", it is part of the goal. There should be no such thing as any 'unimportant' part of one's training. One cannot put a price on friendliness, cheerfulness and a welcoming atmosphere in the FTO they are a necessary accompaniment of business efficiency aimed at giving value for money.
I'm shocked that attitiudes such as those aired by some commentators are still held. We seem to have learned very little in GA which is, after all, a service industry.