Did I say that this would happen some months ago? Yes, I did. It caused unexplained keyboard rage in some participants back then, but there we have it.
It's not the end of the world though. Those who applied pre-2016 and had to self-fund the type rating in the very same way mostly did so by means of a bank loan. Once you've passed the assessment and you have an offer, this shouldn't be too hard to obtain if you have a good credit record. After all, you're entering a stable job with a high earning potential. If you can save up for a fraction of the sum and top up with a loan, that's even better. Many people have trodden this path and been successful.