I agree with some of your points and Yes, the interview was a good experience. None of the students who see you during your interview break will say bad things about the school OR the program! I had the opportunity of talking to some of the students, days before the interview, and that was how I got to hear some of their honest opinions and complains about how expensive the school and living around there is. Yes the PBL is low stress, however it leaves many gaps in the material you are expected to know for boards and you should be filling those in by constantly figuring out what those gaps are and studying on your own.
I have done so much research on pay-as-you-earn and the 300-400 K tax that you need to pay after forgiveness has given many a hard time. It just sounds way to stressful to me! I'd prefer regular loans which you can pay little by little over a long period of time and prefer to save money for opening a private practice. Overall I find USC unnecessary expensive - it is the most expensive dental program if I'm not mistaking; and this is for an OK ranked school! I just have a hard time with going under that much loan for what USC offers.
I have interviewed at NYU, Western, Pitt, buffalo, and UCSF besides USC so far.