We have long been interested in pilot training courses and their content, availability, quality and cost. We watched the quality and ease of use go up dramatically with the advent of the first video courses and get even better as they became internet-based and increasingly interactive.
We pay particular attention to what we consider turnkey video courses—ones that provide all of the ground instruction needed for a rating, FAA knowledge test (aka the written) preparation materials, practice written exams, an endorsement to take the written, videos of all of the required maneuvers and flight/practical test prep. Essentially, the only thing they don’t provide is the training airplane and CFI.