Charles, you're experience is not worthless but your Frank assessment is spot on.
Its all about paying now in the UK unless you can get into one of the few decent companies that would be interested like BA , Monarch.
If you go abroad, you'll have issues because of the time on type requirements, and traditionally china and co want 3500-5000 hrs as they need captains from abroad to fly with indigenous FOs.
You are not alone, I'm feeling my 6000 civil jet hrs are worth FA at present mainly.