My first post, so I'd just like to say very many thanks to the people that post; I'm just surfacing from a couple of weeks of intensive research and all the answers are in this forum....so my advice to any other newbies like me is don't bore the old timers with questions without reading this whole (!) forum first - it's great free easy info!!!! And get out and visit schools and ask questions.
My conclusions from the age old debate of Integrated v Modular research are:
Integrated is preferred by the airlines - they like the structure and commitment it represents. It's not 'if' you've got a fATPL, it's how you got it. Airlines like BA will ONLY consider integrated low-timers. BUT, if you're very, very careful, and structure your modular approach, using the same school, no big gaps of doing non-aviation stuff, no cutting corners, then you come in a very close second.
Costs - modular is cheaper, but not by as much as people first assume. Modular comes in at around £50K, Integrated £65K. Yea, yea, you can do it cheaper - but why would you want to take that risk?
Unfortunately, having said all that, I have to go Modular due to personal circumstances (poorly partner) preventing me spending long periods of time abroad.
Invest upfront (if you can, by whatever means), and save stress and disappointment later. Are those fair words? Even at 40, and scared stiff, I'm going for it. H*ll, you only live once, eh?