I am curious what % of graduates stay in the Maritime industry beyond the minimum required. Anecdotally ... I am willing to bet it's less than 50% at the 10 year mark.
Going in I intended to sail for a career but ended up far short of it. 23 years later I am still in the industry, internationally recognized in my niche of the industry, and couldn't be happier where I ended up. Should I have not gone to KP because life took me in a different direction than to sea? How many going to KP planned on something different and ended up sailing for 20 years, should they have gone elsewhere?
My view is that the rules are not my rules so it's not my job to be an internet enforcer of a standard that doesn't exist. As a taxpayer, I want everyone to live up to their side of the bargain they make with MARAD. Beyond that ... have a good life and welcome to the KP club brother/sister.
To the OP ... in your position I would spend as much time at sea as I could for a few years, live cheap and hoard your money, then pay cash for med school.