Quote: "I assume CAE is relatively legit compared to the other P2F things out there."
At 19, fresh out of school, it's impossible not to be a little naive, and that is exactly what these parasitic FTOs prey on. There is absolutely nothing legitimate about any form of P2F. Self-sponsored type ratings are bad enough (always run at a profit for the airline, as opposed to bonds which are much fairer), but P2F is a scam that often results in the cadet being fired to make way for another fool who'll pay to work. It is also a good way to waste money and make yourself unemployable - no reasonable airline is interested in a type rating without reasonable experience on the line, and if you do the TR with a rogue outfit, the decent companies won't touch you even for a full course with them at your own cost as they'll see you as tainted.