Congrats to your friends and you, I'm glad they were able to do it. Like I said, it is a very difficult thing to do.
Like I said, It is just MY opinion that people come in with their private first. I believe had I done that instead of trusting my flight career (and my money) with the school, I wouldn't not have spent the money I did to try to get my PPL and end up just getting slapped in the face. I feel I was fed promises that did not come true no matter how hard I tried. I found that my flight time at Riddle was the worst time I had ever had in my life, and I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone.
No offense, but I guess hanging with the "right" crowd and having minimal problems with flying makes it hard to realize how or why a person would end up in the "wrong" crowd. Believe me, we aren't here by choice. All of us at one time wanted to be an AS major and the best Riddle Pilot around (that is why we came to that school). The only thing that stood in our way was the flightline (a few standards instructors and managers to be exact).
Like I have said time and time again, I believe it is wise to come in with your PPL at a minimum, just so you have a jump on your flight and are "ahead of the airplane". By the way, a friend of mine who started with me in 1999 (who I suppose would be in the "right" crowd) came in with his comercial, got credits for everything and was out in 3 years. He is now flying with a regional airline at 23, he didn't even get furloughed after 9/11. Now, if that isn't incentive to come in with everything, I don't know what is.
Pardon the long RRR, like I said, after my experience, I am very set in what I think would be a good idea to come in with. As a student who had difficulty flying at ER, and knowing friends from "both crowds", I think I am giving and honest assesment of an easier and possibly cheaper way of doing well at ER. But... If one wants to intrust their finances with the school, and has enough money too, the by all means, be my guest. Like I said, love the school, not the flight line. (JUST MY OPINION!)