I'll give you the big caveat first: I'm still a huge newbie to martial arts so some of my terms and views might be a little off. I started with Shaolin Kenpo beginning last year and quickly realized it wasn't quite was I was looking for. I started looking for more combative-type training and found a certified KM school a few towns north of me. Took it for about 8-10 classes before quitting, but only quit because I was driving 90 minutes to train for 45-60 minutes. The commute got old in a hurry but I still value the training and am trying to help them to open a school down here.
On the pro side, they taught efficient, common sense movements based on natural, human reactions to surprise and stress (no "flying-ninja-squirrel-stance" kata). Almost of the training was scenario- and stress-based - multiple attackers, lots of noise, sudden "lights out" sessions, etc. *Lots* of stress-based, hands-on (feet-on, knees-on, elbows-on....) contact with other students and instructors. There was none of the "traditional" formality I'd seen elsewhere and we trained in street clothes, rather than in a gi. There was a huge focus on reacting effectively, not just "correctly" - you aren't "wrong" if you use a palm-heel instead of front-two-knuckle, so long as you stop the attack - and constant drilling in of the concept of "don't quit - ever".
On the con side, it sometimes felt a little flashy and commericalized. There's a lot of "official" advertising, logo merchandise, etc. It never filtered into the training and we weren't pressured to buy anything. It was just kind of in-your-face. The pre-training cardio/workouts sometimes felt a bit more like an aerobics class (which I guess it *was*, in a way). There also wasn't a lot of coverage of the very basics - how to make a good fist, how to deliver a solid kick - but it's possible [big, fat ego on] I just knew how to do all that so they didn't bother me about it [/bfe off]. [;)] Also, there *was* supervision and correction when hits weren't getting delivered with enough targeting or force so....
YMMV, but I'd recommend at least stopping in on a class (or five) and deciding for yourself if it fits. My "try-before-you-buy" was one-on-one, so you might even be able to spend some time asking how they would handle specific scenarios you've already been in, are concerned about and/or already have an idea how to handle (for comparison to and compatibility with your personal style/abilities).
Good luck,
Keith C.
P.S. - You might want to check out www.kravmaga.com - maybe post on their forum for some "unbiased" [rolleyes] input.