Equally, how does anyone hope to find work with a MEP CPL/IR!!!?
When was the last time you spotted such an opening in any of the usual channels ( Flight, AviationJobSearch etc)?? Have you seen something everyone else missed?
I think that the market has changed. I believe it will not be changing back in the 'shelf life' of this generation of wannabe's frozen ATPL's.
Hence I reckon you either 'write off' your losses or invest further to get ahead.
I have not seen anyone 'posting' on here that has completed 500hrs of Line Training and hasn't been successful securing a job. By contrast, there would seem to be plenty of unrated CPL/IR's unable to find any openings.
It would appear to me that 500hrs on type is a must have to be employable in todays market. Therefore, in the absence of any other options, paying your 'dowry' seems the only option innit. A pilots skill set has a highly perishable shelf life.
Good luck to all.
BN