Seconded. Flight time is a very poor indicator of quality of airmanship, amount of ego, or knowledge...all it means is more time in an airplane. Is it quality time though? The question "do you have 1500 hours or one hour 1500 times?" is a good one when it comes to background and experience.

Does the 400 hour pilot have a CFI and at least 100 dual given? Lots of time in the IFR system? Sharp on instruments? How did they get their multi-time, instructing or splitting it?

Does the 1200hr pilot have a bunch of 152 pattern work? Do they have much time in the IFR system doing cross-countries? Are they sharp in instruments? Would they be proficient in a multi?