Tailscrape -
You seem pretty sure it's a rip-off. I am considering actually doing the course and line training, as I think 100 hours in the LHS may be enough to get me a job elsewhere if Astraeus don't come up with the goods. I am trying to find out how many they took on last time around and how many who did the type rating then found a job elsewhere.
I think we are all aware that doing the course is no guarantee of a job- let's face it how many people do the fATPL/IR and never get a job? (another thread I suspect)