The big problem is not the 1500 hours, but that you need the PIC checkride and not the SIC ride as of old.

For those coming out of 135 or another 121 that is not a big problem as the training will be familiar. but for those with 1500 hours of 172 flying for the $200.00 hamburger its a massif problem. Here is where the airline training will have to change. More basic training and sim rides.

Best would be repeal the PIC rating and change it to SIC and lets go back to 'learning the plane' on the job.

my 5 cents