BEags-
Fully agree with you re standards and the lack of "grounding" that today's student gets in the streamlined system. ANY exposure to flying training can only enhance a student's overall airmanship and "awaremanship". Even if the job he finally ends up doing is on a totally diffent airframe from his earlier training.
I personally think the RAF are standing into danger by further reducing these qualities as they rmove EFT students from a total (albeit contractorised) aviation environment and farm them out to UASs (Note: Am NOT commenting on the standards achieved @UAS, but we stand to lose a lot of the "course" benefits by pushing studes through in small groups)
I wonder what your comments will be on the standard of ME studes in 3 years time?