Binsleepin,
I don't have a crystal ball, a hotline to Alex Cruz or Willie Walsh. I know a few guys on various fleets in BA, and that's about it. So anything I write is just guesstimating based on what's out in the public domain, and what little I can glean from here, and mates on the inside. Unfortunately, my guesstimates seem to be pointing towards 2018 being another slow year for recruitment, and given that I'm a long way down the list for recruitment, I don't think it's going to happen for me this time. I don't dispute what you are saying about LH vs SH slots, I just don't see sufficient aircraft orders / crewing levels to justify recruiting 40-200 (the generally accepted pool size) DEPs between September and July '18.
And if I have to go through it again, I'm not convinced of getting over the line second time around.
Congrats on finally getting in, even if it was some time ago!