I'm with you this time Check Mate, it is a very said state of affairs when all one has at the end of a great career is no friends or family they wish to spen time with and no interests other than flying long haul aeroplanes. Maybe though its something more personal than this, like the fact that once retired these poor chaps just become Jo citizen and simply can't live without the ego inflating and lofty status of Captain Four Bars.
As far as bypass pay is concern the playing field has change somewhat since the Blue Book was written. In the old days one could expect a command in less than fours years. Who then would be concerned being bypassed for six months and at the same time paid a captains salary. I have spent eight years in this airline and have been bypassed for fours of those years and not paid a penny of bypass pay. I fact I have had negative bypass pay applied.