Don't get me wrong. My post is somewhat generically oriented. Have no clue if you yourself buy into all of that crap. The company and pilot groups know that there are plenty of places to save cash and change policy to offset the impacts of staffing requirements needed in the future. But management is banking on all us naive pilots buying into their sob story. It's so much easier than actually doing something innovative but challenging.

Your post seemed as if you feel the only solution to the problem is to hire a significantly greater number than was quoted. I just wanted to point out there are other methods that are probably better in the long run for cost.

Lay off the grape drink!