I wanted to come back and add/elaborate
Some schools/instructors make a big deal about round count. I see it both ways.
Like
Atilla said above, there's something to be said for repetition. Both in terms of repetition of the skill being taught as well as in terms of how to coordinate that with what's happening with your gun. That takes ammo. Yes, some instructors/schools are very religious about making every shot count: one or two shot drills are not uncommon - but at the same time, there is also validity in having the student shoot at least 4 to 6 rounds with each weapon presentation: some errors are not evident until more shots are on-target, especially for more experienced shooters (the "Tigerstripe Drill" video on the Haley Strategic YouTube Channel, with Ron Avery running Travis Haley, is a perfect example - Travis doesn't start to come apart until he's really hammering out the rounds).
Similarly, yes, I do think that there's a true benefit to multi-day classes. It's not just about having the time to really delve into the skills being taught, but also in that format's ability to have the students *really* take the skills and make it their own. But at the same time, intense-focus half-day or even two-hour classes can also both really sharpen one's skill-set as well as be a really good way to confer a limited number of new skills.
And props? I won't lie and say that I don't like shooting steel. I love the instant feedback, and reactive steel is just so much challenge.
But is it necessarily something that I'll look for in a class? not really. Look at many of the top-tier trainers and what their "traveling" classes consist of, and you'll usually see just what Nick posted on RangeRat for the Costa classes (see more class photos at Nino Granzotti's gallery -
http://ninogphoto.com/p495402214" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) - a target (i.e. The Grey Group Vickers 2-day Handgun AAR or the Advanced Combat Pistol AAR on the Firearms Training and Tactics Forum). The 1911Addicts.com class with Bob Vogel? Again, it was pretty much just a set of targets. Barricades and positions can both be taught with only minimal props, and what's typically available at the range, target stands/uprights and cardboard, are really usually all that's needed to construct something makeshift and will do just as well, for the purpose, as something more elaborate. Certainly, some well-constructed stuff can really add quite a bit more
depth to the experience, but is it
necessary for the success of the students and proper knowledge/skill-transfer? I honestly don't think so.
One thing that we do lack, local to NE-Ohio, is a school with the facilities of TDI down in southern Ohio.
^ And that leads me to my final point....
What are you looking for, in your training?
What we currently have in the area - and what's taught mostly in traveling classes - are "manipulations" based.
For tactics, I'd really think that you'd need to hit a school that has some solid facilities, like TDI, Thunder Ranch, Academi (Blackwater), TigerSwan, etc.
Manipulations is the critical fundamental. I've yet to take a Redback One course, but I love their motto: "Subconscious weapons manipulation, cold and on-demand."
But if you're good-to-go on manipulations, I'd spend my money simply accumulating the necessary "prerequisites" at one of the larger schools that has facilities, and go from there.
That said, I also believe that one can never have too much manipulations practice, and that these relatively low-priced local courses we enjoy here in the NE-Ohio region are a great way for even advanced shooters and competition shooters to keep in-practice.