Well Matt, that was an interesting exercise in twisting my words. I said nothing about people paying for their training. Now go back, read it again and maybe we can continue the conversation.
Classism? That's really, really funny. If your assumption were true I'd be overcome with self loathing seeing as how I've paid my own way on every licence I hold with the exception of the two type ratings my present company bonded me for. I won't bore you with the 'woe is me' spiel but in your own parlance I knuckled down.
Can't wait to tell the lads down the Labour Club I'm now a snob. Those geezers'll larf their arses off.
One of the last gentlemen in the business once told me "Son, after a junior officer with a map and compass the most dangerous thing in the world is an untested assumption". Every so often someone says or writes something to remind me of that.