I think what this really comes down to (and take it as you may) but we like people who've had the same experience as us. That's why we justify one school versus another, one FBO versus one pilot mill, etc. To the guys going through GIA, i'm sure they talk to each other and believe that right now, it's the best thing for them. (for a multitude of reasons).

In a devil's advocate type of way, i'm sure many individuals going to GIA are thinking that there is are no hiring and no jobs right now. All the people who are on furlough will be able to get jobs when the hiring resumes, before they (current/future GIA students) do and what could they do to make themselves more marketable to future employers. And while experience is a good thing to have, i'm sure they're betting that buying cessna time isn't as good as buying Beach 1900 time.

The divide (from most of us in the industry) is, we believe the 1900 is a commuter aircraft, requiring two pilots, and if it's flying actual 121 operations, that it is unprofessional to be paying someone else for something that you should be getting paid to do.

But as my first point said, if everyone was going through a pay for job type program, then there wouldn't be a problem with it. Just like if everyone flew for the military previously, or flight instructed, or did 135 flying. We've all had different flying experiences, which have culminated in airline flying. It often seems to be the differences though that separate and push us apart.