Being a good stick does not an experienced pilot make.
If a pilot has been "raised in the 121 bubble" then they have missed many vital experience lessons that only occur when solo either flying freight or CFI'ing. In order to make it to 1,500 TT unscathed an individual has to at least be fairly competent. Otherwise the "thinning of the herd phenomena" would have taken over.
Pay would have to increase.... as long as the politicians don't cave to the universities and airlines. How could it not?
