Overall I prefer freight flying too, albeit my view of freighting is not entirely shared by some of my existing and former colleagues. A high percentage from the company I work for have voted with their feet and gone to pastures new and as far as I can ascertain the reasons result from lack of forthright management style rather than the actual job.
Complaints I've heard from newjoiners on the line include:
1. They have been promised 10 - 12 days off a month; if that's the case then the onus is on management to honour the commitment for all pilots!
2. Quoting 170 duty hours a month is one thing but management need to expand on the facts by informing applicants that time spent away from home is likely to equate to about 70 hours a week, living from a suitcase.
3. Varying start salaries are causing some dissent
Here is my advice to management (because I know you read this stuff):
1. Be totally honest. Tell applicants 'how it is' and not a spun version of what 'you as managers' want them to hear.
2. Pilots in general are people of high integrity who have worked hard to achieve their licences. If they feel conned in any way, they are likely to be very unforgiving!