Doc, it's certainly true that many of them fit your opinion and I would suggest that the reason there are so many complaints here is because there are more crappy ones than good ones.

Hours are flexible, they suit the more 'mature' students, and students can learn at their own pace.

One of my grade 10 students was pulled out of school by his parents at the end of last semester. He is due to go abroad to study later this year.

He now attends a WEB English training centre 8 hours a day, and has done since February. I saw him the other day, and quite frankly I was amazed at how much his English had progressed in such a short time.

Training centres serve a purpose, that's all. To say that they are a some kind of 'greedy business' maybe true, but I don't think the owners of private mainstream schools run their businesses for 'love' either.

On the whole, training centres are crap. However, occasionally there is the odd 'diamond-in-the-rough'.