bill...
i did my training at progress f.a. and they are an excellent school. one definately needs transport to get you off the base now and then as said already, but other than that i highly recommend it.
i have now completed the jaa cpl/ir and finished the atpl exams, without any problems...and i am still working for a south african company flying a beech 1900.
definately options and with the exchange rate still in your favour, well worth considering, you could even buy yourself a king air rating and get a job flying contract outside of the country and get some multi turbine hours.
obviously not quite as simple as that, but dont see too many 200 hour guys being employed in the uk unless they are prepared to buy a 737 rating.
good luck!