Stansdead
You dont bring your own gash bags thats where you are wrong (at least where I work from). Also I have yet to work for an airline (and ive been with quite a few) where the pilots as a GROUP have collective backbone, you are wrong there too.
You are also wrong when you say Ryanair is the lowest of the low - comments like that generally come from inexerienced pilots who havn't really seen or worked for the lowest of the low - you are wrong there to.
To get back to the first querey. Generally Ryanair (EMT) will try to accomadate you in a training base request it is very unusual that you will visit more that two bases during line training. If you do its because thats where there are training slots available. Either way it won't be a last minute surprise.
Traveling between bases on the network in uniform ie jumpseat is free and never a problem. Yes you pay for your own hotel/B&B and the taxi/bus to the airport.
You will earn as a cadet during you apprentiship - and thats the only way to look at it not very much - but its a quickish apprentiship with a reasonably good salary after year 1. A structured route to command and the option to work in one of the many european bases on a 5 on 4 off roster (fixed in most bases now?) which does not change - You could book you car in for an MOT in December.
Also as far as airline flying is concerned it is a interesting and very dynamic place to be.
There you go now you can make your choice.
Rgds