This all makes interesting reading and it appears that the Air Asia program has been met with some disgust, by most people. Agreed, it is a sad fact that low hours pilots are now being made to pay to fly, but in the current climate where there is a glut of low hrs pilots airlines can set whatever terms they like, as they know that some people out there will bite and take the bait. There's nothing wrong with going ahead with a scheme such as this, esp when you consider what your other options are, which atm isn't a great deal. I think if you can keep your head above water financially and you haven't got much debt already then the Air Asia program is very appealing, if not then yes it could be tougher.
Picture this scenario: 2 cadets, one takes the air asia program the other decides to hang around in the U.K and wait for BA to start hiring again (possibly 18mths time for low hrs). Air asia pilot returns home after 16 months with 1000 hrs on type and an A320 TR, meanwhile other guy still has no job and has almost forgotten what an aeroplane looks like. Here's to say the Air Asia pilot doesn't actually return to the UK and instead moves to a bigger carrier in the middle east/far east where he's earning 70 grand tax free. Sure, he has more debt than the other guy, but it's not going to take long to pay off. If you can afford to do it then do it, you'l be the one laughing at the end of the day...
and FYI clanger32, tilbury docks is a very nice place
