OK I take some of your points - not all. The ground school was hard but nothing compared to what you do at degree level, at least a technical degree. Agreed though , university loans are cheaper and there are a lot more bursaries etc to be had.
Responsibility pay - the same kind of responsibility exists in many professions - doctors for instance start at rather low salaries on the NHS considering their expertise. We do have a large responsibility but come on - most of its taken care of by the bloody auto pilot. It would be nice if we really were flying the thing - we need to prove our worth only on rare occasions. Similarly bus drivers/ taxi drivers have responsibility too.....
Anyway Im on your side - I promise - Im just playing devils advocate here. Perhaps we need to open our eyes and step a few rungs down the old fashioned pedastal that we pilots once were on.....