however this again leads me back to thinking i need a backup
In my opinion, treating a degree in this light is asking for trouble - any degree. A degree is only a starting point in your professional education and doesn't qualify you to do anything. If you want an employment backup, you'd be better off doing bookkeeping courses, qualifying as an outdoor pursuits instructor, doing a primary school teachers course, training as a microlight instructor - something that pays moderately well and for which there's reasonable demand. There are a glut of people with degrees and no professional experience, that's no backup.
There are also courses very similar to the Leeds course starting at Salford University and Sheffield University.
I don't know about the Salford course, but the Sheffield course will not be "very similar". Whilst the PPL element will be similar, the degree will be an Engineering Council approved Engineering Degree, and a very different beast to the "Science" course at Leeds which allows a lot more options in courses and doesn't contain the minima to qualify as an Engineer. (Please don't think I'm criticising the Leeds course, but it's not an Engineering degree and therefore a different prospect.)
G