The problem now is that regional airlines are lowering their hiring standards to literally hire anyone who has 1500 hours, where they could be more picky in who they hired in the past.

Checkride failures? No problem
121 training failed? Don’t care
Bomb the technical interview? No worries
DUI? Welcome aboard

I would much rather hire someone with 750 hours and a spotless record versus someone at 1500 hours but any of the issues I mentioned above. I would argue that the 1500 hour rule has now made airlines LESS SAFE as they are hiring pilots who normally would not have made the cut.

Lower ATP hour requirements to a reasonable amount (250 is too low but 1500 is too high). Also please get rid of the special interest carve outs for the aviation universities!