FlyingStig,
I am confused, to be accurate, your post confuses me!!
I have nothing to do with Virgin, and I have never taken a quick Command at easyJet.
I used to work for Virgin, but left in 2009. I am an A320 Captain, but not for easyJet.
Anecdotally, the corner is being turned. Whilst I utterly disagree with the way new entrant FO's are being made to pay for everything and fly for nothing, these are largely the product of dreams and marketing men fantasies at flight schools.
Sadly, with low hours and little to offer the airlines by way of experience, it seems FO's may be abused for some time yet.
However, experienced, type rated Captains are different animals altogether. We need to resist accepting these terms immediately. Easy for me to say? Yes!! But it IS the right thing to do, or else it's all over. For ever.