Bryan,
Qatar have interviewed people for SO and FO not that long ago, told them they were successful and then just didn't give them a start date. Second Officer recruitment at Qatar has now been replaced by this MPL scheme. They aren't going down this route because they think they will be getting the best of the best, merely people with deep pockets who they can make a buck out of with a horrendously overpriced Cadetship.
Get used to being kept in the dark and having the plan change every week. They don't care about you. You aren't wanted in the Middle East. You are needed to fly airplanes as they cant get enough locals to do it. Or in this case find locals crazy enough to pay for training. When you are no longer required you will be thrown to one side and left to fend for yourself.
An MPL licence should only be a little bit more expensive than a fATPL. This course is equal to $160,000 USD. Someone is taking home a huge chunk of your money as it isn't being used for flight training.
You can get an A320 rating in the US now for around $9000 USD. That is for 34 hours in the sim with a partner. So using those figures, the money you give Qatar should buy you around 600 hours in the A320 sim.
SIX HUNDRED HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still think its value for money?