Lucifer
you are of course correct that there are indeed many licence holders out there. However, in the event of a company strike it's not quite that easy to replace a type rated 777 Capt. Even if BA (for instance) sourced 1000 type rated and experianced pilots, these pilots would then have to complete a BA OPC in the simulator by a CAA approved trainer who is listed on the BA TRTO. Bloody difficult when all the trainers are on the picket line eh?
Oh and i couldn't care less what the daily mail or any other rag thinks...they already think all pilots are on £100K+ and drive Ferraris anyway.