First: There's no chance they have a real lawyer. If they did, they'd redirect every single person to them.
The problem with the route of court-action is that once AT don't show up to court, and the customer is favoured in the verdict, then what? The court-appointed bailiffs are pretty useless and actually getting the money that the court says you are owed can be much harder than winning in court.
You get the claim sent to the high court for £60. Then High Court Sheriffs have much more powers.
Your other points are the same as my concerns. Hence why i am writing to the Police Fraud unit to ask them to investigate and suspend their right to flee the country. I am also concerned they have illegally offered shares in the company as they seem to have done and under UK law this sort of canvassing/offering is illegal. They are essentially trying to get everyone to pay up through deception. This is not good business practice.