7 years from initial IR pass to RHS on A321. 4 IR renewals. Self-funded type rating (ATPLs will be fine) Worth it? Ask me in 12 months..... Things are happening in the industry at moment. No, don't give up, but have a second basket for your eggs....
To those who condemn the self funded TR. I met / trained with 7 complete strangers in Berlin who I keep in touch with. 6 of us were employed within 12 months of type rating. Don't shoot the messenger, but for the overwhelming majority, a frozen ATPL is "incomplete" without a type-rating. (It stinks, yes STINKS, but not one of the 24 starters with me at my airline was an FI or "air taxi" or glider pilot or turboprop grafter. All self funded airbus candidates or, spit, CTC children.)