Hi Apple
The oldest student I ever taught ATPL groundschool to was 42 (I was only 28 at the time!). Market situation is forecast (by Flight International) to pick up in 2004, so there will actually be pilot shortage. Start soon and you'll hit it! Even old b#ggers generally get a break somewhere, according to the people I've talked to who've been in the industry a while.
I would agree that you at least consider modular, perhaps full-time straight through, in much the same way as an integrated course (I must admit I work for a modular provider, but I made the same choice three years ago, and went modular, saving about £12,000 and gaining extra 40 hours or so. I never regretted the choice). There are various advantages to modular courses in addition to the cost saving, and no-one has managed to tell me an advantage of an integrated course for the self-sponsored student, even after I posted a query here.