I am a regional pilot who went to ATP about 6 years ago. I've heard that things have changed since then (e.g. price, standards) but when I went through I had quite a positive experience. To say that all their pilots/instructors are bad is quite the generalization. I may have been lucky but the instructor I had for most of the program was superb.

The program had its challenges and you had to be quite self-motivated to do well. When I went through I even remember several students leaving (flunking out) that just couldn't take the fast-paced self-study kind of training. After going through 2 121 training programs (been furloughed, now at airline #2) I can honestly say that it was great preparation for the airlines. If you didn't study every night, you probably wouldn't make it and that's just the way it was.

Unfortunately, I have heard rumor that the program is not quite what it used to be, and that since there aren't as many people interested in flying for a regional making $20,000/yr, they have relaxed their standards in order to get the "customer" to pass his checkrides.

I really had the time of my life when I was there and I will always look back fondly upon it. I met some great people that allowed me to be where I am now, and I highly doubt I would have found that at my little flight school back home.