Now I have to disagree with part of what you are saying. 2+ years is a waste of time, especially if the student is dedicated. However, the generalizations of saying that FBOs are a waste of time is totally inaccurate. I have signed off 21 PPLs in over 2 years of flight instruction. They average 9 hours to solo (lowest yet is 5.9) 52.4 hours for the check ride and take an average of 257 days total ELAPSED time, some of them took breaks for kids, finances, etc. Yes, I track all of that.... and I don't fly with people that aren't serious about committing to the time. I don't have a formal syllabus like you will see in the ERAU types. It is strictly performance based, satisfaction and move on. And just because you have trouble with slow flight doesn't mean that we have to repeat lesson X, with steep turns and ground reference maneuvers, a thousand times until you get it. Most importantly, find someone who is going to teach you how to fly the airplane, not just how to read a checklist and when to push the buttons.

However, I have total confidence in the training that you will get at ATP. But go there after you get you private.