There is always a chance. If you don't ask, you don't get.

However, I was in a somewhat similar situation. In 2001, I applied through UPAS and with the help of a friend got moved to the "top of the stack". June of 2001, they stopped hiring and as you said the rest is history.

I applied again through airlineapps.com and was invited to an interview later this month. Kicked the studying up a few notches and will probably never feel prepared.

Good luck to you. I know it's an incredibly long thread, but read "Latest and Greatest about Delta".