Yes, but after paying your own TR, so not sure that counts as a reason to be optimist
Dr Eckener,
I understand you bitterness to a certain extent, but isn't it so that you do whatever it takes to get on with your life / career? Be it a self-paid type rating course or any other qualification.
I was fortunate enough that I never had to pay for any of the type ratings that I collected until today, but I am far from sure that it won't ever happen to me.
Times will change. We all know that. Until then it's only realistic to keep on flying - even it if is a turboprop (nothing wrong with a turboprop, by the way - done that for many years).