Answers to a couple of questions.
Is it a career? Well, seems to depend on who you know and what squadron you were in! Only joking....
Time to command is very good, the company is expanding and basically people are on the short list for less than a year.
There are also plenty of line training and sim trainer jobs available as well as other things like tech instructors.
Most pilots who get into management seem to go upwards quite well and quite quickly, if that is what you want.
As for comparison with BA, well, over six years, if you were with Air 2000 you would spend a year, maybe two, in the RHS on £38,000 a year basic (increments each year) plus allowances, etc. then move into the LHS where you'd start on around £60k basic. The Captains salary rises to around £81k plus there are % add ons for training people.
I believe that DEPs at BA now start on a salary much lower than ours, but that information may be wrong. Times that by six years (you won't get a command at BA in that time) and then compare what you have earnt.
Of course, in time, I guess you'll overtake your Captains salary at Air 2000 if you were at BA.
Depends what you want.
First Officers and Captains have left to go to other companies, including GO and BA as well as others.
But people will always apply to BA thinking the grass is always greener. From the feedback I get I have to say I am not totally convinced. Really it comes down to, do you want to work for a huge company where you don't know anyone and you are just a number of do you want a more personal touch, flying with people you know, etc.?