I also started flying late 90's never paid for a rating, and trained modular. Having also been a TP captain I have sat next to cadets who bitch about pay and conditions. I love watching there faces when I point out they caused the problem, and as they have been willing to pay for everything to get ahead screw everyone else! The like of CTC are cancer in my opinion, it's a way of protecting jobs for the rich kids and keep the bean counters happy! It's so sad passionate aviators are effectively barred from the industry as the cannot afford a bull**** cadet course!
Be careful what you wish for, I enjoyed TP flying now a 320 driver, and in all honesty it's sooooooo boring! If I got the same salary to fly a Cessna I would quit today!