Just to strengthen what you are saying Mike although you might not want to hear it.
TP guys sitting in the middle rungs of the seniority list are much more happy to stay there in the present climate. As with most airlines seniority is king and now is not the best time to be proping up a list of 600-2500 from the bottom no matter what you get to fly.
To all those embarking on the CPL/IR courses now, things will get difficult so choose the course wisely and make sure you have that backup plan b should things go wrong.
As for CTC vs Oxford vs Cabair vs FTE vs Modular, just remember that hard times level the playing field. In 12 months time there WILL PROBABLY be no airline placements (at least not in the UK), however the best pilots from the above with the fight to survive will always find a flying job in the end.
For those complaining about the doom and gloom just take a good look around, things are not going to get better overnight in the current climate. Silverjet has just released a number of experienced pilots onto the market nobody knows who might be next to release pilots.
Still it's your money and your future in the end make a considered opinion with all the facts at hand and make that decision. Just pray it's the right one.....
Roller
Oh and mikecr don't know whos hold pool you are sitting in but if one is the UKs largest regional operator you should get that call.