I doubt that it will cost the same as the commercial course. That is currently costing me about twice the price of the drone. Was it worth it? I have learned a lot and I am much more safety conscious when flying, but that price is way too much. I had heard that the certificate is to be an online one, which means it could be answered 'open book'. It strikes me that that route will be so,open to,fraud as to be useless. For hobby flyers the best route would seem to be through the BMFA , but would the government make enough money out of that? The other important thing to remember is that these proposals are routed in sthe EASA, document, I.e. European. Will brexit affect them?
However, I do believe that there might be a role for existing, competent pilots to have a role as well. Perhaps those who have a PfCO, and/or have a certain number of flying hours logged. But that also raises further questions. Do those programmed missions that many use count as flying hours, as they are not piloting the aircraft per se.
A lot of water still to go under the bridge on this one yet. Doesn't harm to be prepared though.