RingaDingDing,
You are completely right... The problem with us guys (that's pilots in general) is that we like what we're doing, and we accept to much !!!!! from people who are there just for the money. For most of us, flying is still a passion, even though we moan and bitch the whole time, we actually enjoy flying a nice approach and making that smooth landing.. And I completely agree that most of us try our best for our own satisfaction rather then just sit back and watch things happen..
But having stated the problem, do you have a solution? The managers who screw us have all been around long enough to make the same diagnosis, and the only thing they have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy us taking all their cr*p. They know that a group of pilots won't do anything, unless we are officialy represented by an organisation or a person who can express our grieves without being shot at - read **ALPA. I expect that DXB will issue snowtams before that will ever happen...
Loved your post though.. If only I lived closer to Al Badaa', I could work for those guys during all the reserves I got in stead of days off... I would at least be paid for duty then..