I must say that I sympathise with the current situation. Probably won't help to say my fATPL will cost about £1700 total. I think the sad fact is that there will always be people who will pay for that type rating and I have no doubt people would be willing to haggle for X months sat in the RHS not getting paid in order to leapfrog over others who would only go for less than X months.
A terrible situation. Look to BALPA . . . . . .. . . . . . . .