See!
cheezyjetty ("Back in 2006 I joined EZY via an OAT scheme where I paid £20k for TR and base check, with PERMANENT employment contract at Direct Entry rate.") is one of those typical examples of people who know
only the 'blessings' of low-cost airlines and then claim to have all the wisdom in the world by making statements like: "If you want to see the world, do it after 2000 hours PIC. You might end up in the right hand seat once in a while, but you'll be very employable."
What do YOU know about employability after paying 20k for a type rating?!?! The only thing you DO know is choosing for mediocre airlines with mediocre T&C's while paying for the "privilege."
Quite a few years ago, when I flew for that orange outfit I was told "oh Bokkie, with a 737 or A320 type, you'll never be out of a job again. Plenty of contract jobs out there!" Now look at how the market is flooded with desperate cadets paying for type ratings working for breadcrumbs leaving no opportunity anymore for experienced pilots with time on type. Even with >3000 hours on 737's and A320's I couldn't go back to my former employer even if I wanted to, simply because of low timers willing to work for peanuts.
I predict the same will happen with DEC's. IMHO, in a few years the market will be
flooded with desperate captains, willing to just about do anything to leave the lousy low-cost outfit they work for, undercutting their colleagues who are in the same shoes and in the process making all this PIC experience in effect useless. It will be the next wave in dragging down T&C's to a newer and lower level in this industry. PIC time will only allow you to go from one lousy job to the other, (EZY --> RYR v.v.) perhaps only marginally improving one's life because of a better base. That's it!
Carpe diem folks: seize the day! Seize the opportunity to join a good outfit and leave this low-cost business behind, regardless whether you have 1000, 2000 or 10000 PIC hours in a shiny new 738 or A319!