Big pockets and access to cheap capital makes it possible for them to scale the business on a national level. 

I think getting access to foreclosure listing would be more beneficial no?

An inability to survive without access to the overnight commercial paper market is listed as one of the causes for the downfall of Bear Stearns in the book "House of Cards."

Most independent agencies in my area have access to them.  

Lots of them out there that provide essentially the same report (assuming you've had the required home/site inspection and have full access).

In this current situation that I just closed, the seller lived out of State and was going to have a friend meet me at the property to grant me access to the house each time I needed it.

They did make it a point to say that the website would support mobile accessing and having continued to research it seems like a reasonable deal particularly in that it's even cheaper after the first 12 months.

Access?

what's the best way to find the ARV to do my numbers for a wholesale deal if i don't have access to the mls to run comps? 

I believe the license is worth it's cost just for access to the MLS and the data on solds and comps.