What was the point of your thread?
Is to realise CX has changed the definition of Expatriate...because from your post, i know expat remumeration is no longer needed for people that has a dream for flying in a big airline but couldnt do so in other ways. And flying is all a DREAM! hah...yeah...it is....at the beginning...
Im sure after a few years in CX you won't feel bad about the DESO (being at lower rank, working in the same company, and perhaps working away from home as well)next to you earning the same amount as you when you are a JFO , because you have to thank CX for letting you achieve your dream n skip all those tough road.
There are no idiots out there applying for CX....like u said...its all about achieving a dream that's all.
The scheme is gold like you said. Because it is first of its kind...N I could only say, great move for CX to have introduce this scheme to international candidates during this finanical crisis to help save billions of allowances in the future.