The argument that Ibbotson had thousands of hours and was thus experienced enough, even without holding a CPL, has been heard before. Experience doesn’t prove ability.
How many times have we read of pilots who have forged licences, Parker penned their hours, or just plain not held a licence at all and been caught many years later? By then we hear the same argument...blogs has proved he can cope by his experience, so what’s the problem?
As in this case...no legal licence...no vote.