Lot's of people I've tried to introduce to flying have stated that they already have several hours logged, but never completed the training. I don't find a 75% dropout rate alarming. Flying is an expensive luxury for most of us, especially when you work with your hands and you're raising a family, so the dream is often postponed. I put off finishing until I was in my 40's.
Even then, I stopped flying for several long years after getting my license, as had several others on this forum! In my case, I couldn't afford the time or money in order to stay current, only logging about 10 or 15 hours a year in an expensive club rental situation. I was apprehensive on every flight, and never achieved a level of confidence and competence that I was comfortable with. I realized that I was degressing as a pilot and couldn't afford remedial instruction, so I quit for safety's sake. Those were very sad times!
Years later I stumbled onto my current home and hangar at a bargain price, and jumped back into flying with both feet. It was much easier to maintain currency when all I had to do was drive home from work and climb into my own plane for an afternoon or evening flight (sometimes almost every day)!
Still, I couldn't afford to fly if I had to pay tiedown or hangar fees, or rent somebody else's airplane, or had to pay for maintenance (I do all of my own). Everybody's situation is different.
