Ha ha ha...
Actually I am quite comfortable with my situation, I left NZ because I wasn't inclined to work for free. In the UK I was offered a cadetship for a small airline which meant that they would 'front-up' for my conversion costs in return for a significant time commitment (bond). I then beat a lot of other candidates to secure a highly desired job at a legacy carrier where I was fat dumb and happy until life in the UK became too much of a chore, thankfully by that stage (thanks to the cadetship) I could choose to stay in the UK or move back home (or at least close to it). To be honest I wasn't hell bent on taking a flying job back here as the mentality here does drive me a bit mad, but having been offered a jet job it was a good way to get back home. As for still being an FO... not necessarily. I am not saying these schemes are without problems, all I am saying is that for the right candidate it can be a 'valid' way pursuing a career in flying.