Nice wake up call
It is absolutely true that airlines as commercial entities will do all they can to cut all costs. Old farts should really wake up because they might soon be replaced with younger guys ready to take half the pay to do the job. It's been over 15 years since I made my first flight and I've invested too much time, money and energy to simply give-up on my career because of the current airline requirements. I am still wondering what all the corporation is waiting for reacting through unions and to express their concerns about these new conditions. It's not only a matter of money & lifestyle but also SAFETY. No other employers are asking such big investment just to get a job. Employment security should be a must to balance these investment, or more logically, companies should invest in the training of their employees instead of asking them to do it.
I don't see why newbies should pay attention to old pilots advising them not to fly for free when the same old guys didn't do anything to help...