Everybody who overstays believes it's not their fault.
An estimated million in the UK with each and every one offering some sort of justifying backstory. Whether their stories are legitimate or not doesn't matter because the British public is PISSED OFF about it.
So the labour government whacked T3. The coalition whacked T1 and capped T2 and is getting ready to bugger up T4.
Anyhoo...
For the benefit of those regulars following the thread, the OP got a special type of discretionary leave that runs in two laps for a total of 6 years. After that they can apply for ILR (with KOL, etc etc). There's no provisions to switch out from this type of leave from within the UK. They can switch out into FLR *ONLY* by obtaining an entry clearance (this was, by the way, pointed out to the OP and they would have signed a statement confirming that they understood it).
In my own experience, very few have the huspa to get an entry clearance, so for the bulk it's a haul of 6 years in a marginal life of total absolute dependence on the sponsor. Oftentimes victimized by domestic violence and no place to turn. No credit, no mortgage, the highest employment you can get is flipping burgers, and blah blah blah blah. Economically and socially radioactive.
I think historyenne's and ksand24's and Debz' replies are very appropriate to the thread and to the forum overall. They are all saying to keep the forum on topic in our area of limited expertise, and it makes a lot of sense. Hat's off to all of them.