I wasn't going to comment here but what the heck, why not.
In reference to rjm's post # 16 and going along with most of the post and especially flyboy's post 19: No mater how people feel about using an instructor, in one way or another he is going to be of some help and most likely will end up saving you money, time and frustration if YOU give them an honest chance.
Now by an honest chance: Meet your instructor, talk with him, get his phone number and make arrangements with him to get togeather ie: arrange times to call to see if he can help you. Then call at those times even if it's to say I'm sorry I can't fly today. ( you can say your sorry -- RIGHT )
If you set a time to go fly BE THERE and be on time.
Let him know that if you make arrangements to fly and he can't for some reason: PLEASE call and let me know.
In other words grant him the respect he is due and hope he is the type that will do the same.
Good instructors are normally good people ( they have to be to put up with some of the s*** they get ) and will treat you the same as you treat them, and they will sorrow at your misfortunes as much as you do.
No mater how you feel about instruction, there are good points that shouldn't be overlooked.
As a last point: I'm self taught ( that's another story ) and as such I promised myself that if I could help it NO ONE around me would have to go through the same thing I did, it wasn't really fun.
ENJOY !!! RED