Rain.
How many pilots is "a lot"? I'm sure you've used proven data to make this claim. Oh I forgot, it's a rumour forum....
It is impossible to draw a comaprison between experience of pilots from 16, 8 or 4 years ago and those hired today unless you have the facts. Even if you had the data, such a comparison would be irrelevant
Is the DEC policy fair?
No.
Would a change to the promotion criteria change pilots outlook? Probably.
Will the policy change?
Not as long as there is a more economic (short term) and expeditious method.
Zomp
Yes you are right, the DEC policy has been around as long as Emirates has. It just hasn't been used to this extent before.
Emirates will continue to hire DEC's as long as there are no qualified (EK definition) F/O's on the fleet.
Why? Because that's their policy.