Attitude and Aptitude - at all levels
Main concern about the >900h instructor comments on the Buffalo accident was not his hours of flying experience (likely mostly C150s in VFR) but his idea about coping with icing conditions. Ideally, if he is hired by a US regional they will train him about the required techniques and not leave him to assume the automatics will take care of every senario.
US Congress and the FAA have NOT chosen the minimum 1500h rule YET.
They are aware of differences between all wx King Air operators (including B1900 operators Gulfstream Airlines (not the Biz jet Co.) described in the Bloomberg report as facing fines from FAA) and those flying PA28s in Sunny CA.
The OLD UK system made a lot of sense: 700h to CPL - it encouraged folk to learn more about the basics of flying through GA before venturing out to airlines.
Speaking with an FO on A320s (came through an approved uk integrated cadet scheme) with a major UK operator 2 months back, I was amazed that he didn't appreciate the difference between Mach Buffet and Stall or why you shouldn't climb too heavy/too soon, or how Kuchmann Carrots helped delay Mach Buffet....... So the approved schools have a lot to answer for even if their cadets are well motivated, intelligent and able to pay big bills (now there's a quandary!).
But, as hinted at by other posters, particularly in a recession, it is now about accountants, the bottom line and punctuality as priorities higher even than safety (heard this today from a key safety advisor to major group of western airlines).
God help us......