I agree that it may be difficult to know in advance how competently a pilot will react to an abnormal situation (although presumably sim sessions are intended to elicit an estimate of this). What I am getting at is more as follows (and I admit that I am not a pilot or have had any other experience in this area).
As a SLF, I have always assumed that both occupants of the front seats have similar capability to fly the plane -- and I am not concerned when I learn that the FO is flying the leg that I am traveling. Further, I have not assumed that when the FO is the PF that the Captain is constantly correcting errors made by the FO. Indeed, I generally assumed that (a) errors by the PF are quite infrequent, and (b) it was nearly as likely that the FO would be correcting errors made by the Captain when the latter was the PF. This view is reinforced by my understanding that seniority is what is critical to becoming a captain, and that to be promoted, one needn't demonstrate that one's competence exceeds that of every FO now occupying a RHS, just that one's competence exceeds some minimum standard.
In contrast to this supposition, I see repeated comments on PPRUNE threads suggesting that many FOs are not to be trusted to perform even routine tasks with any great level of reliability. Further, some suggest that Captains generally have skills that are much greater than those of FOs and their supervision is both critical and nearly always required.
Given the criticality of seniority, this suggests that hours are viewed as a more important input than being able to demonstrate skills superior to all those who are not currently captains.
I am sure that something is amiss here. Is it my understanding that basic competence levels are likely similar? Or that current procedures for estimating capabilities (which seem generally to be linked to hours) really do separate the sheep from the goats?
I am not trying to be accusatory. Just interested in understanding who (Capt/FO) or what (experience hours vs. competence) is really is driving the "bus" up front. Thanks.