The point being that studying or working in another area doesn't necessarily show any lack of passion for, or commitment to, aviation. In some cases it probably shows that they can take a measured view of the risks involved in different types of training schemes.
In fact I agree with you here, if I was in HR I would think you're a good candidate. You got a qualification and demonstrated you can use it for a decade. The other candidates I would be looking for are people doing their LC in a few weeks(get off here and back to the study lads!) or who did it in the last 2 years and showed an interest in flying since or before.
I wouldn't want to see current Uni students or some one only out a few years who just saw the ad in the paper one day like last time. And yet they have an advantage over flight students.