The reality was that there was no 'Golden Age' for the majority of wannabes. If you were in CTC, then yes. If you were lucky at FTE/OATS and your name was put forward for the SSP schemes then yes. On the whole, there are plenty of people I know who didn't get jobs. Don't be deluded.
And the market has changed again. In the last recession, the experienced guys got hired. Now, I reckon you've got more chance if you are inexperienced. Ryanair are only interviewing those without experience. I see Thomas Cook has taken on CTC cadets, as are EZY. My friends who were made redundant from XL are having no such luck. 2000hrs of NG time would have had you at the front of the queue in the last downturn, now it seems to count for nothing.
The industry is buggered. That should tell you not to count on the profession as a career.