I believe they get over 100 applications for each Cadet position.
Yes, using NZ contracts was a dirty, unethical trick.
Yes, they did charge Cadets when they shouldn't have.
Yes, you could do the training maybe $20,000 cheaper yourself.
Yes, spending time in GA is probably good experience.
But - about 90% of the Cadets who start the training finish the training end end up working for Jetstar as a pilot.
A lot of the other integrated have a completion rate of maybe 30% and no guarantee of a job.
If you were a young pilot coming thru and could get into the right hand seat in two years and start earning decent money, rather than bumming around in GA for maybe ten years, it makes sense.
I've met several people who've been thru the Jetstar Cadetship, and while they may have the odd gripe, in general they are pretty happy with the way things have turned out for them.