As a former low-time-pilot, and low time captain, i have experience with both being lower time (was 700TT when hired) and flying with low time pilots, guys as wet as a commercial multi. Honestly, if i had to put money on who was going to perform when the time came around, i'd put my money on the guy with 1000Hrs, vs. the guy with 250. The decision making skills are a big difference, and as stated, stick and rudder can make a difference also.

What i'd say makes the difference is experience. And each different experience set brings something unique to the table. A guy straight out of training, has the knowledge of a mostly competent other pilot in the airplane, may have very little pilot in command experience, little real world weather experience, etc. The 1000hr CFI will probably have some more PIC responsibility on the resume', more well rounded flying, and possibly more emergency experiences. A guy hauling checks single pilot, IFR will have more experience than either of the other two.

If you look at other careers, it's all about experience too. I think what makes pilots different is that the standards are so over the board that no-one knows what they'd consider "typical" or "standardized". Commercial pilot license is the minimum, but because our Unions have never placed any requirement, say, a journeyman position, or a tier that you had to ascend in order to break into the industry, then the companies will hire at what they want and we'll be bickering about it forever. My wife's cousin is in training to be a plumber. He apparnetly finished one of his tests, has a job with a plumbing company, and will be an "apprentice" for the next four years while he's building experience to be a licensed plumber. Apparently, some guy who worked for this company before told individuals that he WAS a plumber, before being certified, and the company quickly fired him. So, Mr. Cousin-in-law was quick to tell us that know, he's not a plumber, but a plumber-in-training. Maybe we need that as well...I think the order will go.

-Super Captain (we might have to come up with another one above this to feed egos)....they'll get five stripes
-Captain (four stripes)
-Pilot (three stripes)
-Pilot-in-training (two stripes)
Benchwarmer (no stripes) you're one below the flight attendant...maybe given during training.