That's a tricky issue to quantify. Is some of it that the recent stagnation increased the average experience level lower tiers would get as new hires? And now they're reverting to the norm? So they mistakenly thought the previous decades was typical when they actually might have been above average? IDK.

Or is there something at the lower level of training that is getting missed? Or not being taught? IDK.

I've spoken with a couple of former MIL guys that went the RJ route before getting a job with a major. They've been impressed with the training they got at the RJ carriers. So the current low times guys are probably getting better formal airline training/experience vs. what the current generation of 'old timers' got 30 yrs ago. But we might have gotten a greater variety of flying. That's a learning curve from the school or hard knocks. Compare the different backgrounds and which prepares one better for the job at a major today? IDK.