I knew that as I was posting it, but if we were getting instruction from someone who wasn't actually certified as an instructor, would we know BEFORE the SNAFU in getting our cert cards?
If it is a SNAFU, as in my case, it is easily rectified and no big deal.
If it is intentional on the part of the instructor, you have a case of fraud on your hands, and I am sure a lawsuit would be possible. An instructor who teaches a class knowing that in another week or so the student would learn that it was all a hoax would have to be a complete idiot.
On the other hand...
There was a recent case where a student took a PADI referral to a non-PADI resort and tried to get certified. In this instance, it was signed off by someone who was not a PADI instructor, and the student was shocked to learn that he could not therefore get certified. Again, that is a case of fraud, and the last I heard the dive operation was having to deal with the resulting heat.