Nobody should be able to be in a captain seat without at least 500hrs PIC.
Ok, I have over 3000 hours just in the dash8 but only 200 hrs pic. Are you to tell me that some newhire that's been flight instructing with no 121 experience is more qualified to be captain than I am? I understand your argument but do you think 500 hours of flying Vfr pattern work is going to make me one hell of a captain? I dont think so, but I'd be able to fly one hell of a box pattern