From City Flyer...
Don't waste your cash on an integrated course that is NOT mentored or a pre-selected airline course.
I think this is probably a little harsh. You have been lucky enough to have made it on to the BA FPP. This was not available when I began my training although I still feel that I will be in a good position after completion of an non-tagged integrated course. Of course, had the scheme been around before I started training, I would have applied, and of course (perhaps exclusively) the BA FPP should be the first port of call when looking at training to be a pilot because arguably it is a good scheme.
You say
My advice is all is to only ever do a tagged / mentored course in this uncertain economy.
But is this really that good advice? MPLs rely on the stability of an airline, if you choose to do an integrated MPL scheme and your sponsor airline goes bust, you are out in the dog house. Nobody else will take you on and thus, your options are very limited. In this case, may an integrated CPL/ME/IR from one of the 3 really be a more sensible option? Even with the (British) economy not looking as ambitious as is it did 3 months ago, things seem to be picking up for those who have gone down the modular route, we can all hope the current lull is only a short term one.