Crashdive - good post. I recognise my own situation in your last post. I am now able to afford to pay for a type rating on a B737 and that is what I intend to do. A pact with the devil? Possibly.
I think the cycle will carry on and in 5 years time there will good jobs and schemes for low-houred pilots, but not now.
I have to balance it all up. I am 35 and have 950 hours. In 5 years time I will be 40 and have 1200/1300/1400 hours. Who knows. I do know that employers will look past me to some 22 year old with a shiny new f ATPL. So to all you who don't/won't/can't pay for a type rating, just get behind me in the queue. Your time will come.
For those who are interested, paying for this type rating will take me to over £100 000 that I have spent on flying in the last 10 years. My next purchase will be a car that a) works, and b) costs more than £500.