Ted,
It's dissapointing to feel there's a barrier between what we're thinking because from what I've seen on here, I hold you in high regards, for what it's worth.
Unfortunately the internet is not the best medium to communicate ones real feelings, and if we were to talk face to face, I'm sure we'd get on very well. I've never met anybody in this industry (in real life, that is) who I've either not got on with initially, or formed a friendship within a few weeks of having known them, so it would be incorrect of you to form a negative opinion of me based on a few words on an internet forum.
Although I appreciate where you are coming from, I do realise what is happening, 20 years old or not.
But that begs the ultimate question, and let's keep this pleasant -
Realistically, what do we do?
You come across as an intelligent gentleman, so as somebody with so much more experience than myself, you must realise that people with an ambition will be driven to, if you wish to put it this way, 'prostitution' - peoples dreams form a large part of their drive in life, and you must be able to understand that it can remove some semblance of logical reasoning, especially to young, starry eyed cadets such as myself.
Every industry has its problems, but as above, what do we do to help ourselves? I'm not talking about the new guys yet to join, I mean us.
Because believe you me, I'll do all I can to protect the careers and standards of life for both myself and my colleagues.
Cheers, Ad