SD, you write "hold off for a while" . For how long? Myself and some people I know are on a ramp going down and can fall any moment into bankruptcy.
I can understand people taking an offer to SSTR; if one's not taking it because of some 'noble' intentions then someone else will do it.
In other words; all pilots have to refuse to pay for their own typerating (your sollution). How do you want to organize this?
I think we should be realistic and take it as it is and do the best for yourself and/or the one's you are responsible for. Despite many noble intentions or ideas...