Just to go back to this paying for a TR etc.
I had to wait until I was thirty before I even had the money for a CPL/IR. Am I bitter towards 20 year olds with afluent parents? No, that's life. We all make our own luck and make use of whatever resources we have.
One distinct advantage to paying your own TR is not being tied to the airline. You are in charge of your own destiny.
17K is nothing. If you, like me have to work in the bush for a year then the loss of earnings alone is way more than 17K.
As to getting the respect of people with a chip on their shoulder even though their actually some of the lucky bunch who made it, I'm sure I can live without it.
G.