There's several different ways to do things in this industry. You will definitely receive professional training if you go to FSA. I am currently an instructor at FSA and I have been for awhile now, waiting for my opportunity to transfer to a center. I never had intentions to go to the airlines either. Corporate all the way!:rawk:
I can't speak much for the other schools that you mentioned other than DCA. I was not impressed with their housing (too expensive) and flightline when I toured. Since then they've gotten new aircraft. Other friends of mine went there and said they enjoyed being a student and got the training done relatively quickly. But once they became instructors there, the story changed and they couldn't wait to leave. I think they were making somewhere around $10 per hour as an instructor. I decided real quickly that DCA was not for me especially since FSA had the BJD program.
When I decided to attend FSA, I already had my PPL and instrument ratings. (Mainly because I had never heard of FSA until later into my training). I would say that it is definitely a good idea to get your PPL before you decide to invest the rest of your money into and expensive program as it is. Make sure this IS REALLY what you want to do. I know some people say do all your ratings at FSA or do everything after your PPL there. It really doesn't matter as long as you work hard and apply yourself. Yes, it's true the less ratings that you do at FSA will make it more difficult to "catch up" to their standards. It isn't impossible but it can be difficult. It depends on the person. Basically what I'm trying to say here is that you can do your training however you want to and still have the opportunity to be involved in the BJD program if you like.
Honestly, it really doesn't matter if you say that you want to do the BJD program. That program is in place, but at the moment the best idea is to get your CFI ratings and instruct until you get the ATP mins and then transfer to a center when they need people. If you do that, you take your current pay and benefits with you. (All full-time CFI's at FSA get full-time benefits) and at least you would have much better chances of being SIC typed on some SIM or better sometime. It always depends on what they need at the time.
The other option is to go to a center right after finishing with your CIME (which right now would be very difficult-it might change by the time your ready) and basically make minimum wage doing whatever the center needed done. And this option is only available to students that have done all their training at FSA (full CIME).
In the long-run, do what's best for you. If that means getting your private, instrument & commercial ratings at your FBO locally, then do that and finish everything at FSA then instruct and go to the center when you get the opportunity. Or head down to FSA as soon as you can and get started on your training to the business jets. You'll find lots of us here that want the same thing. Just remember your goals and work hard. Whatever school you decide to go to is just there to help YOU fulfill your goals. Work hard and apply yourself and you'll get it.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
