Anyone who thinks DECs are something new to EK need only look to the sticky at the very top of the Middle East page. I'll save you the clicking required by quoting the pertinent passage:
Yasser Wateverusay ... carefully adopted a ponderous tone. "Yea Sire, whenever possible, a wise Master Cameleer will entrusteth his autocamels only to the hands of cameleers whose skills he knoweth well. What better way to learneth the true worth of any aspiring cameleer than first to observeth him as an effoh calling warnings of oncoming potholes and falling rocks? For it is written that many cameleers who willst seeketh to joineth Thy caravan will cometh not from the caravan routes, but from the tribe of Parker bin Pehn."
"This tribe of Parker bin Pehn. We knowest it not."
"Ah, Sire, the Parker bin Pehn beith a secretive sect and one which plyeth its trade behind tightly closed tent flaps with but a single quill. Many an unwary Master of Cameleers hast fallen foul of this widely scattered tribe. They willst enter Thy house glibly, bearing stirring testimonials from masters who in fact knewest them not. These richly bound scrolls willst speak of wondrous deeds on caravans they have travelled - but, alas! they willst have travelled these routes but only in their dreams."
"Then surely We must avoideth such vile creatures."
"Verily, 'tis so, Sire."
At least now they put them through an sim and an interview. At the time that was written, they interviewed them over the phone - I kid you not - and any FO who was around at the time will tell you that we certainly got a few of the Parker bin Pehn tribe among those that arrived. Who could forget Terry's good mate Erwin?