I think my personal attitude is that all hours are easy, be it in the cruise, at take off, in the climb or landing - until something goes wrong. That's when it matters, and if you are still there to clock up some more hours after, then you are a better pilot.
I suppose the industry must have a gauge, and hours are it, simply because the more you have, statistically, the more chance you have experieneced problems and overcome them.
Regards
LF