Not sure what your point is satpak....the real point of the original post is that beginning with our next hiring cycle SWA will be hiring lots of folks without the 737 type rating and unlike in the past when they hired people without the type they WILL NOT have to go and pay 8K out of pocket to get the type before starting class. New hires will just show up without the type rating, 8K richer than previous SWA hires, and receive the type rating free of charge during their new hire training.
Yes, they MAY give some preference to those with the type but that pool of applicants is going to dry up VERY quickly.