All I have to say is there is a lot more to being successful in a casino than just learning to count cards. If you never learn the other 75% of being successful in an actual casino, your free education isn't worth much. If the $3K teaches you these things in addition to being able to count, it is not wasted money. I have no idea one way or the other. I always found it better to teach people to count first and then teach them to maximize the ability to make money with that knowledge in a casino second. But if they can do it all in one shot, more power to them.