You don't get automatically sent to the brig for not fulfilling your commitment, IIRC, you have to pay the retail cost of your military academy education, and if you don't do that, then you are in trouble
There isn't any way to skip out that does not violate the laws of the UCMJ. Getting dishonorably discharged is the result of that process, but it's not like you can just cancel your contract, write a check, and walk out.
Yep. It's amortized about $50k/year over the five years active requirement. You can also leave any time in the first two years of school without any penalty. And they don't throw you in the brig, you get a tax lien. It sucks, but it's really no worse than a student loan.
Fair enough although I suspect the military is in a better position to collect than a private company would be, any signed contracts notwithstanding. (Companies can apparently recoup training costs under some conditions but it can be a complicated area.)