Funny Saab, I also had lessons at an FBO and a "University Flight School" and I agree there was no comparison.

The FBO was superior in every regard.

I found the FBO to be much more professional, in fact every aspect you found FS to excel at, I found my local FBO to offer a superior product in. That is not to say that the FBO next door didn't suck the chrome off exaust pipes. Nor is it to say that every University level flight program is not as good as the FBO training I recieved. I found the formal ground school to be invaluable, and despite my best efforts, don't think I came anywhere near duplicating it with my students.

The individual variations are tremendous, and you have to examine each school individually, rather than say "all FBOs are inferior to all Universiy Flight Schools", or vice versa.