I also wish to echo similiar concerns. With the type of outlay in effort, resource, time and money why not use it to get yourself up the rung of the ladder by a couple of steps. Unlike many others in JAA land I would also be welcoming to any 'brother of the skies' but it's not about me or what I think and the previous posters are correct the system over here has a prejudice of welcoming only their own home grown talent. Even with the conversion you are seen as a 'repair job' that's been patched up to keep you going, I totally disagree with this but again what I think doesn't matter.
Good luck whatever you decide.