I know how you feel Ncusack and I sympathise with you.
It does look like its a rich boys playground out there if you have Daddies' millions to fall back on.
I considered leaving the RAF after I was grounded: a case I am still fiercely fighting.
What stopped me leaving was the apparent inability of potential airline sponsors to realise my employability. Every half- or full-sponsorship I applied for, they turned me down at the intial screening. Even though I have >500 hrs on single and twin turbine helicopters!
I can't afford to be unemployed and I don't want to re-mortgage my house, but I don't have 600 quid at the moment, let alone 60 grand!
But my solution is to work for approx 10 years in a ground job, save like crazy, then see what the market is like..... hopefully this 'pilot shortage' that people allude to will be in full swing!
So hang in there, it will happen in the end.