This is a great way to think of it. Thanks for the post.
The public often thinks of the year end total paid out- including payroll tax, benifits and hourly wages- and thinks X is fair for a pilot. But because most folks have know idea what a CEO, or CFO, etc, does... they figure the millions a CEO make is almost fair.
If the conversation was shaped in the terms of hourly pay per ticket per hour, it would be clear how poorly we are paid for our contribution to the bottom line.