Whatever else can be said about easyJet, if they make you fly out of an airport that isn't your base, they will provide hotel accommodation and transport to it.
I agree that now the new entrant contract has been agreed there is career progression at easyJet. Yes, the first year of pay per hour is a bit rubbish, I did it for almost 3 years! £38k whilst you won't live like a king, should be able to pay your flying debts and get by. The FO scale at 75% is not fantastic I agree, but the 100% is £44k basic with another 5k or so sector pay. Don't forget your also getting 7% pension, eligible for the buy and save as you earn and free performance shares. Once at the SFO scale, its a £57k basic that is going up 3% this October, another £5k sector pay and a 5/3/5/4 roster. That comes up about 4 years after joining.
When I went through CTC the bond was £60k and foundation course £7k. It was an unsecured loan from HSBC. My type rating course was one of the first that required us to provide part of the money, circa £8k toward it. I'll admit, my parents and grandparents helped with the TR money. My loan peaked at £75k and now 4 years after joining easyJet it is down to £37k, with roughly another 3 years before I am debt free.
No, easyJet is not perfect and there are things that do need improving. However for the people that do manage to get in, through the flight schools or applying themselves. There are far worse places to be.