Yep. An international student I knew fudged the 50 hours and did only 20 hours. She needed her Ps so she could drive her visiting mum and grandma around but if people can't even do the 50 hours, what about 120 hours?
I don't agree with the whole idea of "hours". I think you should just be eligible for the test as of a certain age, and then do it when you're ready. I mean, if you did the 50 hours in your local neighbourhood and never got onto main roads, does that qualify you to be a good driver? (not attacking anybody's ability to coordinate a car, just the matter of never having been on a main road and experincing the situation). Similarly, why should you have to "fill up hours" if you have mastered all the moves in less time?
In Hong Kong, you just take an instructor course (there is no option for private tuition in terms of parents and friends and whoever) and most people complete it within 2 months (one or two lessons a week), sit the test, and ta da. That way, everyone gets taught properly and efficiently. I think they should make a course available through the RTA or some qualified driving school that is like that, and MAKE IT CHEAP.