Costs/Care
I went thru Higher Power in 1999, Boeing in 2000 and later thru Cockpi4U as well. Today I am still in contact with HPA and visited them just last Year at the facility they use the last few years now. The care is still the same, even after years in Business they care about each single customer. In Boeing it is more commercialised but the standarts have to be met. Cockpit4U is of course more into JAR-OPS regulation but also the personel behind the sceene is helpful as well even after you paid the bill and got what you paid for.
As a summary I would say: Money you spend on your education can be wasted as there is no guaranty that you get a job. Nowadays Company´s ride the horse as most wannabees are willing to pay and do everything to get a seat. Wages are frozen since years as a result. Pilots earned more money 10 to 20 years back. If you sit in a nice cozy office with a good education you cannot lose money and life quality at the same time.
Fly safe and land happy
NG