Amazed...
I'm always amazed at what people will ignore when renting a plane.
A little context: Hertz Rent-A-Car washes and cleans each car between rentals. If the radio is busted, it doesn't leave the lot. I have rented a Ford Shelby GTH for $129 for the day.
I drive that same car to the local airport to rent a multi for around $200+ an hour and half the radio stack doesn't work, the interior smells of stale sweat and desperation, and half bald tires.
Then I get done with the flight and I'm being charged a fuel surcharge on an aircraft that advertises "wet rates". Then insurance, even though I carry my own renters insurance.
Why do schools get away with this? Because we let them. I have ditched more than one FBO/ school because of p*ss poor maintenance. If they advertise a plane with GPS, autopilot, DME, dual NAV/COMM, ect that's what I want operational. That's what I'm paying for, that's what I expect to get.
There is no excuse for poorly maintained aircraft. If it's not flyable, don't fly it. Even if that means pushing back a checkride, extending your training time, whatever. If you rent it and they make money off of it, they won't fix it.