Crosswind, you have said it all. OK, you paid for a type but at least you got paid afterwards. Buying a type is a big gamble for the most obvious reasons but it seemed to work for you. BUT, to buy a type in the full knowlege that you will not be paid is unforgivable. That means you have the money to pay for the type AND you can go without pay. Any fool would know that this is going to put a professional out of a job, and that is why its done, for no other reason than that. If there were not these kind of people around with the wealth (or family) required then the owner would have to take one off the unemployed list. I am sorry but I am unable to have warm and fuzzy feelings towards "pilots" of this ilk.