The last two posts are fairly predictable in that they concentrate on what Bendig has rather than what he/she is saying. The reason people like Bendig probably won't be lining up to take redundancy is that so few of them understand their own financial position in any sort of detail. Bendig and Co. won't retire early because all of a sudden you have NO INCOME and a lot of outgoings. Unless you've spent a lot of time planning your exit, the reality of leaving the world of a regular pay cheque is plain scary.
The counter argument to the young pilot from the older is, if you lose your job you have the time to come back and make good the damage. I could lose my job and never get another in my lifetime remaining.