big_mouse,
These guys are not being twisted and jealous. This is the MOST level-headed and reasonable cadet debate I have seen here. Check out some of the QF threads (which is most certainly a fairer scheme) and there you may get close to what you are accusing these guys of.
Listen to their advice, if you want to go ahead with it, it's your choice but if I was going to apply I'd work out how I was going to live off that numbers that people are quoting.