Funny enough we were just discussing this topic before I read the thread. With the advent of computerised systems that print out the aircraft's faults and tell the engineer what to change is it any surprise that it doesn't take long to get a licence?
Gone are the days when an engineer had to know what an individual component in a valve or resister in a black box did. Whether that is good or bad remains to be seen.
Also, whilst it may be true a LAE earns more than a motor mechanic it is interesting that the hourly rate for maintenance is far higher at a garage than it is at an MRO.