I've stayed away from this for a few days because I felt that VT was getting a hard time for being honest, and that's not fair. There is a great deal wrong with the baby-pilot employment system in UK - and it's spreading elsewhere. It's not his fault. As he says, it can only really be dealt with by unified action from within the airlines by the wrokforces involved. Sadly, history doesn't give me much cause to hope that things will improve for those of you beginning your time in commercial aviation, who will have little incentive to improve things for those coming after you.
VT, all I can say is 'good luck'. I think you'll need it - especially to achieve the kind of returns you think you have a 'right' to! I hope you don't have cause, in a couple of years' time, to regret any of the decisions you have made or the course you took.
Scroggs