Regarding other options (as in places to get training) I have none. I've been a member of this site since June 2005 and Ironhorse has been a member since November 2005. There have been many members that have taken his course and highly recommend it. Ironhorse is one of the many members I would trust with my money (payment) at the minimum (I would trust him with much more than that) and I have never met him in person. As you spend more time on the site and learn/get to know us you will find there are members here that you will become comfortable with, and with trusting them more than some of the people you see in your everyday life. Also not sure what your definition of "hard to reach" is but I find it hard to believe that Ironhorse would deliberately be avoiding responding to your PM's when he got them/had the time to respond back.
Bottom line it's your money and you need to do what you feel comfortable with good luck on whatever you decide. 

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

Thank you for taking the time to respond. You are right, I need to elaborate on "hard to reach." The email for Ironhorse no longer works. His website no longer works. The contact info on better business buroe no longer works. The only means of contact I have is via message on here, with no other contact info provided. We have exchanged one message on here in five days, and it was only one sentense.
Put yourself in my situation for a moment. Does the description above sound like someone you would want to work with?