411 I can't agree with you here, when you recruit a commander from another airline you don't know anything about them! All you know is what's in their log book. Just because they might work at what is regarded as a reputable carrier doesn't meen they are necessarilly anygood. Surely your arguement would apply to F/Os. If you recruit an F/O from "other ailines where they have proven their worth" as you put it, then wouldn't you still know what you are getting as an F/O. If you don't know with an F/O why are you any wiser with a commander??
Given that EK want to put these DEC straight into their jets, without any knowledge of who they really are (ie, a history of recurrent checks, behaviour etc) then they should be more thorough and selective in recruitment not the other way around.