It depends on those 10 mens experiences that lead them to that conclusion doesn't it Clanger, if they too have paid to fly then they are hardly the fairest of judges as to who is 'ill'. That aside I think I have made my point more than clearly and beyond that we will cover the same ground, go around in circles and reiterate. The thread is becoming a touch boring and incredibly pointless as the 20 will be on their type rating now.
As for my role as broker, believe me people couldn't afford to keep you on if you weren't any good - regardless of how much they liked you. It is a meritocracy - the way it should be.
Though irrelevant, a worthy point made by Pilotho!