I really wouldn't worry about having to go to an "old boys club" twice a week. I have a few friends that went into the UAS. Honestly, they loved it, and you will make some amazing friends. It is just a big drinking club. I have spent many an amazing night in the UAS Mess getting trashed with brilliant like minded people at £1 a drink!
I honestly wouldn't think about the minimum service bit. Being in the forces is a lifestyle, not a job. It is either for you or not, and that is why I would suggest go to the UAS if you can and give it a try. See what you think because I think you will be suprised.
I would give my right arm to be able to fly in the RAF. The chance to be in charge of your own aircraft. Fly how you want to fly, and make the decissions. Commercial is nothing like that. "It's flying Jim, but not as we know it".
I have been in Ryanair for over 2 years now. I did the modular route and thought it was very good. I could work at the same time as flying as it was only really flying couple of hours every other day, and paid for a lot of my training myself, and still from my first flight in C152 to sitting in B737 was less then 2 years, so not any longer then integrated, but worked out to be less then £30,000.
To be honest, most of the time when you go to places like Oxford or Jerez, the extra you are paying is to get you that chance of an interview with a major company like BA, Flybe, Netjets and the like. Not that there is anything wrong with that as every possible thing you can do to increase your chances of a job interview is worth it, and never more so then now, but if you have your sights set on Ryanair, then the school you go to doesnt really matter. As long as you have a licence that can be converted to IAA, it doesn't matter.