Dr Jones, as far as a first post goes, priceless!
In the current climate, you get your fATPL, and you take the first offer you get. You simply cannot wait around for 18 months for an overrated 'legacy' carrier to come knocking on your door. Not because you can't 'make the grade', but because their business model is 20 years out of date, they don't make much money, don't buy many aeroplanes and don't have many jobs.
As FR are more or less the only consistent recruiter at the moment it is no surprise that most of the OAA conveyor belt end up there. All very simple economics. Nowt to do with making any 'grade'.
Do they feel a tad silly sat on a TR course having paid £30k more than they needed to? Probably. But it beats plan B. Which is twiddling your thumbs.
Who want's to sit in the RHS for London Airways for 11 years anyway?
EK