Well I think that the situation that with fATPL you sit without the job is nothing extraordinary. Let take a look at any profession - economist (accrding to a data of statistics, they form most part of unemployment in their own profession), financists, MBA, etc, etc... All of them heve to spend up to 10 years before they get a good job in they profession. I don't think pilots are exception. Only difference is that the training is very costly. I am going to start integrated in FTE this year and I believe that this will be most exicting part in the very hard way to the jet pilot career. Do not know is it worth it but dont want to regret that I have'nt even tried. Talking about the expences - I think that cost of training forms only 70% from ability to take a F/O seat in a jet.