Corsair, I certainly don't agree that the CAA self improver route was horredoulsy expensive.
The CAA self improver route was a good deal more affordable than the current JAA modular system. No appoved ground school required for CPL and ATPL exams, hence you could just buy the books and book in for the exams.
On the CAA self improver route the IR, if done once 700 hours was achieved could be done as a non-approved course where training was done as required and there was not a requirement to do a minimum of 50/55 hour course.
Also as an CAA QFI, you could be teaching the IMC rating and gaining quite a bit of IFR experience prior to taking the IR. I remember seeing BCPL courses for as little as 1200-1500 pounds (in the mid 1990s', compare that to 5000-6000 now for a JAA CPL (even take into account inflation). With the 23% tax relief available prior to 2002 then flight training was alot more affordable prior to JAA.
Also BCPL to CPL upgrade courses were also available for quite some time allowing people to skip the 700 hour requirement.