You can convince every pilot in the world. That is not going to make any difference. You have to convince the regulators and the national Governments plus the European comission. Pilots especially just the purely recreational and sport kind i.e. PPL represent very few votes. Think of the airfield closures. How many pilots vote and campaign against those.
I don't feel the need to thump my chest and proclaim my experience to justify the opinions I express.
Unfortunately many of the "regulator" are made up of pilots or ex pilots (who know better).
Anyway, I'd rather have this discussion with someone who I know actually flies, and hence is arguing for a reason. Some of the other contributors who like to stir the pot I know don't fly, or fly very rarely and their contributions are designed to stir, cause arguments and not be productive. Even trying to sabotage efforts you could say....