Turns out I am typical of many pilots. I saw the need, but couldn't easily persuade her to do it. Despite her initial reticence, she was all smiles by the time she was done . Many business associates are also taking the course. Any non-pilot who regularly flies in General Aviation aircraft is a good candidate.
Most students fly their own aircraft, though a fair number fly rented aircraft.
Students have flown everything from simple Cubs to heavy twins like the Cessna 414. Dual controls are required, of course, but brakes on the right side are not. Traditionally, the two or three day course is comprised of two ground school sessions of two hours length and four one hour flying sessions, two each following each ground school. AOPA ASF still offers the four hour ground school portion of the course, which is immensely popular. This 40 minute video is a pretty good introduction to the Pinch-Hitter concept, though the four hour live course is far better, in our opinion.