Jockflyer,
I didn't mean to appear to possibly call you stupid and don't worry, you didn't patronise me. I know you have been through it and I haven't. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
As far as I see it (I didn't put it particularly well before), loss of earnings is a completely separate issue that anyone who is considering doing an ATPL course should have tied down before they even consider training. The beauty of the modular route is that a full years loss of earnings doesn't become a factor, as you have the oppertunity to carry on working.. .The cost of the ATPL course is the cost of the ATPL course. Anything else is a peripheral cost that you will budget for. What I was trying to say was that telling someone an ATPL course costs £60-70,000 is going to scare the bejesus out of them because it doesn't cost that at all.
Finally, I did take your advice. <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> I'm budgeting about £40,000 for the modular course, and I already have a PPL and Class 1.