Merc, lets not labour the point here, I know what your getting at, and on the face of it in a different circumstance i.e. a situation I was not involved in... I would probably make a similar assumption, however I was involved here...and I'm not embelishing the facts.
I made the SSTR comment because that was how "desperate" I felt, and I was considering all the options with all the potential outcomes.
The fact is, I decided not to pay for a rating for a couple of simple reasons.
1. IMHO it is exploitative and would have added to my debt burden
2. I already had a reasonably well paid flying job, so my desire to further myself could be advanced by my experience and ability, rather than have my employabilty based on an ability to accumulate debt.
So as I've said, I'm not a hypocrite...I'm probably as far from it as anyone could be regarding SSTR's
As for the lucky break, well we all need to be in right place at the right time.
finally, I stand by the numpty comment......I feel I'm entitled to that opinion