Mr P,
I know your pain. I had nearly 3 years to wait for my first break. I wont do the old don't give up thing cause I am sure you don't want sympathy.
The two people you know might well have got jobs without paying to fly. You just don't know. I know people on P2f programs right now and I would say that I wouldn't hire three quarters of them if I was a CP.
I beg to differ on your thoughts that companies don't care about where the hours come from. I cant speak for Europe but I will tell you alot of companies on the other side here care alot about where you have flown. Korean Air and the Japanese carriers simply wont recognise hours from some airlines. Vietnam Airlines got burnt by a guy who had flown for Batavia and his first landing with VA nearly ended in tears.
There is one airline in Asia that ask 250 on type and that is Citilink. All the rest ask 500 and that is included into the 1500 hour ATPL requiremnt. Will you have 1500TT and an ATPL after your 500LT?
That is the minimum to apply. Its not a got 500 on type guarantee of a job.