I have said it a few times, but this Captain was hired as a low timer. That is the issue that would be addressed by raising the standards. I don't care how many hours someone has sat in an airplane watching the autopilot fly him/her somewhere, it doesn't make you a better pilot. If you don't have good stick and rudder skills when you get hired at an airline, you will never get them. No matter how many hours you watch George take you somewhere.