Hmmm... bear in mind that when you (as an airline) buy an Airbus, for example, they throw in 5 or 6 sim courses with it. This means that the training costs are associated with line (and therefore revenue earning) flying.
Sometimes having a type-rating works, sometimes it doesn't. There really is no right or wrong answer to this. Some airlines prefer to train their own people, some will pick a self type-rated person and run a differences course.
In the UK the growth is in the 'work for us for six months for nothing, we'll give you a type-rating and some experience' scheme.' Personally, I don't like these things - they undermine pay and conditions for everyone else but I do understand why people opt for them, especially when you're behind on the repayments for your integrated ATPL course....