I chose options 3 on purpose. Got a university degree and worked in that field for a couple of years, gaining experience and paying my modular courses out if the salary. It is perfectly possible, if you have patience and are able to reduce your expenses to a minimum.
Less than a year after obtaining the fatpl I got the chance to fly for an airline, debt free and even with some savings.
Never regretted the path I took, it took me 2 years longer than my integrated peers, but I am still glad that there’s always something to fall back on; not only a degree, but a degree with corresponding working experience.
Can happily advise the same route to all the young guys just coming from high school. In the worst case you don’t ever get a job in the cockpit. But atleast you will be able to have the career and life that you would have, if aviation didn’t exist.