I've been in Curves for nearly 2 years. I'm getting ready to switch to the Y though because of the hours. Hubby works late, and I can't get a sitter in order to get there before they close. With the Y, I can put the baby in their daycare. However...
Curves is an excellent way to exercise. You get what you put into it. As someone said, you can make the workout as intense as you want. And yes, it CAN match what you could do on a treadmill. I always added to my workout afterward by using the Curves weighted hoola hoop for 10 minutes. Some days I would focus on just the strength training, putting my all into the machines and tiring my muscles. Other days I'd go for aerobics and do lunges, the football running thing (I know that's not the technical term LOL), fast leg or knee lifts, etc. I got my heart rate into the aerobic range. I never got bored with it myself because I could change what I did on the resting stations and make the workout a bit different each time, and because it was a good place to socialize. I just didn't socialize DURING my workout, as I tended to focus less on my workout if I did.
As for Gary Heavins politics...hmmm. I donate my income where I choose for it to go to. I'm only glad people don't pick their friends that way, or I'd be minus a LOT of friends who didn't share my views.