I have answered a number of phone calls from people asking about training and asking what is involved and what the school offers.
One of their first questions is; "does the school offer FEE HELP" and when told no, they politely end the call.
The choice of flying training provider (for many aspiring pilots) seems to be not what does the school offer in terms of instructor experience, aircraft types, training offered, progression available, industry reputation, training environment etc, but is; "do you do FEE Help?"
Personal opinion follows:
The cost that a number of FEE Help providers are attaching to their courses is often way out of kilter with that offered by non-FEE Help providers. I doubt the level of training is commensurately higher than the higher pricing would indicate.
It is hard for pay as you go schools to compete with schools that offer a "no cost" licence for the student (but get reliable payment coming in from the government).
It is hard also on many students who will never end up at the pointy end of a large passenger transport aircraft and who will be saddled with a huge debt, way above what they would have built up paying as you go.
Neither of these results are good for the industry.
I can see value in assisting students who struggle financially but the way the system operates now is not always fair or good.
Not sure I have an answer other than for aspiring pilots to realise most people who start flying training aiming for a CPL will not become airline captains (or airline pilots at all), if they do it may be years down the track, that getting a commercial licence is expensive no matter which route you take and to be wary that entering into a FEE Help course may end up being the most expensive option and doesn't at all guarantee a higher quality of training but will guarantee a debt over your head that may last for years.
Do not right off the non-FEE Help route. May be harder initially to fund it but may end up better for you in the long run.