They are fairly sophisticated investment vehicles and are not really appropriate for most non-accreds, they focus on capital gains, which is more likely to be an issue for accredited individuals, which ultimately leads to an easier path to raising capital in larger chunks.  

I just copied this answer of mine from a similar question last week, I think spending hundreds of dollars a year on Quickbooks for a simple landlording business with no payroll is unjustified. 

This can be repaid by raising the unemployment rate for payroll taxes. 

Nonetheless, by joining their lower level program, students can "become sophisticated investors" and hence invest in deals offered by higher level students i.e. the syndicators.

There can also be issues with Schedule-B exceptions too, especially with investment properties, that some less sophisticated title companies may cause issues with. 

Is it ethical for school districts to maintain current budgets and payrolls when those services are not being provided or at the very least those service  capacities are severally reduced?

Why do teachers need to be kept on payroll?   

Typically you are expected to be a more sophisticated buyer at this point. 

Commercial building owners are mostly sophisticated investors.

In Texas, there's very few limits on who can be a trustee, so the quality and sophistication of the person you must deal with can be all over the place.