I thought this might be a productive discussion... and maybe answer some of my own questions for planning.
Looking around, I see two types of classes - multi-day classes with well-known traveling instructors, which will only be in your local area once a year, and local one-day classes with usually less-well-known trainers.
The former will usually be much more extensive and expensive. Just to use Todd as an example, AFHF is ~$400 plus ammo, while a weekend with one of the local trainers is more like $100 for a Saturday.
My question is... if one is limited in funds, at the beginner-intermediate level (ie, someone who meets the requirements for a class like AFHF and not a lot more), would you usually recommend taking several local classes, or saving up to take one of the more well-known classes next year? On the one hand, while there are many qualified local instructors, in generally the instruction quality will be higher in one of the more name-brand classes. On the other hand, you can get the cheaper instruction immediately, put it into use, and come back for a refresher and continued improvement several times over the course of the same time period to work out kinks.
What have you all found is the better approach? Obviously everyone reaches a point where there's only so much you can learn from anyone who isn't at the top of the teaching community, but which is the better way to that point?