Thing is Schweinhund I totally agree with you.......Wait around and see what happens but you will be waiting a bloody long time and probably be far too old to do it when the airlines do have sponsorships again. I am not the kind of person who wants to get to middle age wishing I had grown some balls when I was younger and gone into the profession I always wanted to do.
Remember also that in the past the BA sponsorship had up to 55,000 applicants each year for 100 places........May be you actually stand more chance of making it in the present climate?!?