Shed Dog,
I haven't flown with the cadets as the company I'm at doesn't have them but I've seen plenty of pilots coming through with massively different levels of experience and just as massively different levels of skill. I wasn't disagreeing with the "there's no substitue for experience" because i happen to agree with that sentiment. The changes that are being seen in the industry mean that people are going to gain experience at companies like Skippers and so on. Not the way we all used to in Broome, Kunners and the like.
Not arguing your point at all because I agree. The times and the method of gaining said experience is what has changed.