Toddbabe: They were and still are posers that are not contributing anything to the front line where we need bods the most.
I don't get your point either. You say you knew them many moons ago but claim that the current members are posers and tossers? How so?
For anyone that can make it, go and spend a day with them on one of their many In-Season Practice days (invariably at a weekend) and watch how they interact with the many members of the public that they invite. Watch the children's (future pilots) faces. See how their parents look at the guys with respect for their attitude to the young, old and infirm guests. So what if they 'pose' at airshows?
They are fallible, but that doesn't mean they're worthless. How else can you keep the military in the public's eye for a few million each year? By keeping them in peoples faces, we are all constantly reminded of the fact that we have actually
got a military. From this base we can then lobby the fools on the hill for better equipment for those frontline troops/aircrew etc.
And as has been mentioned - ALL the guys have experienced of frontline 'ops', non more so than the Harrier pilots in Afghanistan. We've all done 'ops' of one kind or another, so if all you really want is a contest then why not direct your attention to asking why there are 60+ Gp Capts in MoD or 30+ at Wyton?