I hope not.

Technically semantically correct, but that's not the common usage. I'm speaking airline industry English, not utopian English.

It's "founded" by market forces.

I doubt it. Management will try to band-aid their way through the retirement bubble, and then resume business as usual. Absolute extreme case the RJ's go away because there are not enough (experienced) pilots to fly them. But they are not coming to mainline, and as long as management keeps their scope allowance in their hip pocket they can grow the regionals after things settle down. Mainline pilots will probably not give up anything to eliminate existing scope allowances, especially if it's not even being fully utilized.

He sure is. Despite his reputation he actually has a higher than average pass rate.

Yeah, he's a good dude and good instructor.

But if you don't measure up to his (reasonable) expectations of a PIC, he can be merciless. Show up prepared, ask questions and it's teaching mode, and he is a good teacher. Applies for recurrent as well.

I've had him a couple times during initial and never had any issues with him. However, I've heard a lot of horror stories from others.

Very true.

+1 on ST having a higher pass rate than others. He knows he has that reputation and wants it that way. Motivation for the fellow that have him for an examiner maybe? Had two guys in my class pass with him. Just don’t be a fool and think you know everything.

Umm, no.
Heard a military dude lit into him when he started talking down to him and got personal with his "your an idiot" routine. This was after he correctly answered every KV question for two hours. The boss happened to be walking by as the student was packing up his things and calling management to let them know he wanted nothing to do with this place.

False.....

How do you know? Sounds that it could occur.