Droopystop
I think you're being far too modest about professional pilot qualifications.
The time it takes to qualify is only one factor and, in isolation, means nothing.
You say it's possible to obtain "a frozen ATPL, with an IR, a couple of type ratings and maybe one or two speciallity ratings in say 15 months" whereas becoming an electrician involves a 4-5 year apprenticeship including attending college. Are you assuming the same intensity of effort and study during the respective periods?
There are always exceptions to all generalisations but are you assuming that, generally, people who train to become electricians have the same mental capacity as those who train to become professional pilots?
Or that anyone capable of qualifying as an electrician is capable of qualifying as a professional pilot/accountant / lawyer / design engineer?
"Until we have to do proper qualifications to be allowed to fly, pilots will remain poorly paid."
What do you mean by 'proper qualifications'? Isn't a professional licence a proper qualification? And an IR?
"Companies only pay what they have to."
True - demand and supply ultimately dictates. (The outrageous amounts currently charged by plumbers in the UK is a classic example.) Earnings aren't going to improve much (if at all) while there are more pilots than jobs.
If supply exceeeds demand, why would companies pay more to pilots with "proper qualifications"?
(I agree with you about experience.)