Its really horses for courses. Eastern is a secure option at present, the business is diversifying and unlike Ryanair, has far less exposure to a consumer spending slump.. The downside - its not a shiny new Jet.
You are on the payroll from day 1, no tricks or surprises, if you are willing to put the effort in you should get through the training ok.
The J41 TR is circa £13k, SAAB about £15k paid up-front, you are then bonded for £8k for a year non reducing to cover the cost of line training. After 12 months, the £8k bond becomes zero, you are free to leave the company owing them nothing.
You will get plenty of hours, recieve a high standard of training, get valuable experience, & have your licence unfrozen pretty quickly, if you have the preffered 1000hrs when you join then command can be achieved quickly.
There are a small number of new joiners with low hours, but they generally work for the company in another capacity first - Ops, ground handling etc. Most are ex instructors, air taxi, other ga background.