Not surprising as their actual contact with real aircraft is minimal, and what was the jewel in the crown of hands on gliding has been reduced to a minimum and replaced by the joke that is the Part Task Trainer for badge attainment.
If you actually look at the requirements of the PTS for flying and gliding you'll see that nothing is awarded for synthetic training alone, and rather only for synthetic and actual hands on flying.
Yes, there is a perception that they're getting a badge for a lot less work than previous, but it's not being held in the same regard.
In our experience, the real problem lies with the availability of the Part Task Trainers. Embedding them with the VGS was a real mistake, as we know hardly any gliding takes place at all. In 2019 we have been offered zero gliding slots and along with that, the chance to do a 'Aviation Training Package' on the part task trainers.
In the same time, we have had 55 sorties at the local AEF. The cadets are completing the required airborne elements for their powered wings, but are being denied them because they haven't completed the ATP, (couple of PowerPoint shows and 10 minutes in a gliding simulator). We even have cadets who have completed all 6 AEF sorties, (approximately 3 hours of hands on flying in the Tutor), and still don't have even the basic Blue powered wings! How an extra 10 minutes in a gilder simulator makes them a better pilot, I don't know?
The part task trainers should be moved to the AEF's and the aviation training packages carried out there. Better still, let the cadet Qualified Aerospace Instructors carry out the ATP's at flight simulator equipped squadrons.