Agreed that those who joined post '03 have always known about the DEC program, but as with everything at Ek the goalposts were continually shifted. Initially it was only for those with substantial wide body command time on an Ek type aircraft. Then when the applicants that were eligible dried up the requirements were reduced until (as mentioned by one previous poster), there were candidates accepted from the left seat of narrow body aircraft who had never ventured outside Europe.
Those from my previous employer who joined Ek up to 18 months after I did came in as DEC's where as that opportunity was denied to me as the criteria were higher when I applied. Fortuitous, yes, but fair?