Sgarvey,
I have now a fATPL and I am happy the way it went,however if I could go back I wouldn't go to the USA for the JAA PPL as it made my life more difficult for the rest of the training in the UK(CPL, ME, IR).
procedures can be different there (for example the way you join the circuit just to mention one),the airspace is different and RT is different.
I also did some hours building in the USA which I really enjoyed.
Just an opinion based on my personal experience which will be shared by some and not shared at all by others.
M.A.