Okay, I'll play -
I've read a number of posts from a number of instructors around this forum that I wish were in my area (but that isn't the case). I'd dive with folks like you in a heartbeat. I had a DM buddy that I dove with for a number of years - as a buddy, not a DM/instructor. Man did we have fun!
He isn't around anymore, and this is what I percieve of what I have:
One LDS wants nothing to do with me because I didn't train through them (I moved to here after certification) oh, and I won't spend a fortune there on all new gear of the lines they rep.
One LDS is basically just selling trips, trips, trips (all on my wallet - read as really $$$$ - think that has been said before) so they can go for free, or classes, classes, classes (read: cards, cards, cards) = spend money, spend money, spend money. Not dive (learn), dive (enjoy), dive. Their business plan is that they loose money on air fills, but more than make it up on new gear 7 classes/cards.
One LDS is all about selling big ticket overpriced gear, (oh, and the personalities are just "stoic" - some of the competition claim that shop is their best advertising).
A number of shops are gone - too short of a season here, too much market saturation, economy, insurance, etc.
At the LDSs around here, its nothing about diving for enjoyment........ the business side of things has ruined that. The industry has ruined that, as well as the insurance industry. My old buddy was a DM that made it a point for us to dive Sundays so he could get away from the shop he was at and we could have fun.....
Around here, my wife and I, as well as other past diving friends continually wonder if there is some long term negative health/personality result of running a dive shop.... seems even the best intentioned end up psycho...
The DMs & instructors are unreachable behind the cloak of the DS owner.....
I HATE ALL OF MY LDSs.......