FFB, as you say, after 5 years your type rating lapses and you are no longer conidered qualified on that type. I assume that for the last 9 years you've been flying as an FI somewhere? That length of time instructing will always raise doubts in recruiters' minds as to whether you'd easily make the transition back to airline flying.
I would have thought that yours is the most easily justifiable reason for a paid-for type rating. Re-validate your 737 or 320 rating (I'm sure you can find a better deal than the commercial ones out there) and get back to EZ/Baby/Ryan/whoever as a currently-rated experienced airline pilot. I'm sure they'd change their tune!
All the best.
Scroggs