Hey Skaz,
I hear ya dude. But don't forget, the best part about these forum is that you get all types of different opinions which sometimes will shed light onto a side of the situation that you had not realized before. The point is that you get boh sides of the story, the good AND the bad.
As for this type rating issue, it's a raw deal, but what are we going to do about it? I think I'm in the same boat with you. We're not American, we don't have a type rating on same a/c and we don't have jobs, ....well at least I don't. The best thing we can do is to try our very best to keep each other informed as best as possible. In the end, I don't have 8500 sterling. So if that is what it's going to take to put me back to work, well then I'm REALLY screwed!!