The MSF in Virginia depends on where you take it. It is separately run, but usually using a municipal or state property. The one I first took 20 some years ago did not get you your license but it prepared you. And it really did. I still had to do my exam. And, for my part, I forgot to check off the right box at some point after I stopped riding for a long time, and I had to retake it to get my endorsement back. It was kind of tricky.
I am not sure I would say yuck about the Rebel. It's a great bike and it fits me beautifully. You can also carry a good bit of stuff on it, unlike the S40. I almost bought one again. I just couldn't put up with the cold natured ride. I also looked at the TU250, because it is fuel injected, and..again, it's too tall. Not as tall as the C5, but had I thought more carefully about shock tension, I would have bought one, or simply swapped the shocks on the Vespa. The Vespa still had plenty of clearance.