Bora,
I don't think many people ever clung to the idea that the Ctc scheme was a full sponsorship deal, if they've ever existed anyway. It provides a fast track to the rhs of a jet and esp with Easy a good chance of a quick command.
Even the old BA scheme wasn't a sponsorship deal, the cadets were on a reduced pay scale for years afterwards to pay for the scheme, whereas with Ctc the bond just gets paid back to you over the course of 7 years, plus most of the interest on that sum. Either way it works out the same in the end, you pay for your training, there's just a job at the end of it all. The cadet takes more of a risk, but hey that's life these days!
Anyone thinking of applying, do it and see how you go, there has been nothing better, that includes the old BA scheme
WBV