1. No, it hasn't. We still have several rostering issues. They are being dealt with, but progress is slow. You've alluded to one of the issues in another point.
2. All VS pilots are based at LHR, period. Your ratings are not particularly relevant to which type you may end up on; you could go to either - though the B744 does need a few extra bods at the moment.
3. There is quite a lot of positioning to and from flights for the B744 guys. Some is to and from MAN for those schedules, some is to, from and around the Caribbean for the tortured scheduling plot for that region. It is becoming an issue, exacerbated by the shortage of pilots on that fleet.
4. The new card is in now. No difference to the amount of money received (around £400-£500 a month, tax free). HMRC may have further news on that front for all airline employees soon!
5. Yes.
6. Most courses are at The Base, Virgin's training facility in Crawley, though Airbus pilots will do some or all of their course in Toulouse. The B744 (and some A340) simulator phase is at Burgess Hill. The kind of course you'll do is a complicated issue depending on your ratings and currency, and one I'm not really qualified to comment on. Whatever it is, it'll take between 3 and 5 months including line training.
Scroggs