Okay, this thread is pretty big and fat, so I'll be brief.

Firstly, I believe that being trained as a sub is not the same as being taught to do woodwork, or to learn proper english. I believe that Ds is part of a relationship, and to treat it the way you would a TAFE course is to invite trouble.
This matter of training someone elses sub just doesn't fit with me... why would you base a relationship on Ds, and then outsource your subs training? You pay someone to teach you how to use a computer, not to learn submission. This seems to be totally illogical, because whilst your sub will be learning, you as the dominant will learn nothing, all alone at home. Should a Ds relationship not be about mutual learning? Should you not be practicing Ds together, rather than apart? Why bother with a relationship at all, if you're not?!

And more to answer the original post, I believe that being "trained" as a submissive should be something that develops as part of a relationship. If people are hunting for a lifestyle involving Ds, or to understand what submission entails, then I don't believe that being trained into what one person considers to be a submissive (be that a doormat or a firey wench secretly craving a spanking) is the best way to go. Rather, they should learn through forging a relationship with someone, and one that is personal, instead of simply "business".
LD