I did my licence in 2002 (with a 20000 hr pilot from taupo) and it was just at the start of the student loan scheme. I was fortunate to have parents that could gaurantee a loan from the bank for me so I could finish the last 100hrs in one go, but they wouldn't do it till I had gone out and earnt the money and completed my ppl, this way it proved that I was keen and wanted to do my licence, Why not do this for the student loan system and only fund the commercial part of their training? at least that way you will seperate the wheat from the chaff