I suppose it is all about the integrated people being a 'known quantity' and some good marketing by the training provider.
It doesn't seem a fair way, or particularly astute way of selecting, but recruitment seems to be reactionary by the airlines rather than proactive. Therefore somebody, ie Oxford/Cabair popping forwards and saying hey I have an immediate solution for you - less training risk because we have seen them perform for 12-18 months etc etc. is a way of getting rid of a problem. It also saves you having to trawl through hundreds of applications from modular guys - most of which are very similar on paper. How do you choose - if you need a quick solution you go with the option that has done the trawling and thinking for you.
I compare it to booking a holiday. You can pick your own destination (doing your own research about whether it suits your needs of not), find an airline that flies there, sort out the flights, book your transfers, organise your own activity etc etc. Lots of work, you have to juggle things like flight times and dates around available accommodation etc. You have to make your own decisions, and if it is not right who do you moan at? It is your fault - not everybody wants that responsability.
Or if you want an easy solution you go to a travel advisor - they say I know what you like and want. They choose the destination and arrange everything for you. You don't need to think about anything, it takes no time, it is less stress - cause if it isn't right or goes wrong it is there fault not yours.
Think of the pressure selecting pilots and the money spent on training - even if the students pay their own type rating if they fail, your schedule is up the wall. If you are an employee it takes guts to stick your neck out and make selections. I can not see an airline having a positive view on your career if you select a handful of pilots that fail the type rating or don't pass the line. Much better to take the integrated people - if it goes wrong then it is that damn training organisation. Drag them in and give them a b*llocking - make sure they vet the recommendations better next time.
This is in my opinion the pragmatic view of it - I am 30 plus and an instructor so I know where you arecoming from Eggc - however the integrated people have paid the money and taken their chance. If they get a break because of that then that is life, and even on a level playing field they may be better pilots or characters. They have still had to pass the same tests, go through interview, do sim tests. So at the end of the day they deserve the jobs they get. Any favourtism (if it exists) is not their fault. We need to pick at the bits left over!
We are not going to change the selection procedures, so we need to just plug away.
In your case EGGC4284 I think it is the curly hair. As I say don't put your picture on the application. Also I have seen your navigation and unless you find an airline that supplies mystery tours you may be stuck!
Keep your chin up - just because Thomas Cook don't want either of us then all is not lost. As V2andsome suggests - they are just going to have to wait before they get the pleasure of employing us.