Maybe being a good military pilot doesn't guarantee success in a civilian environment.
Mate you have hit the nail on the head. I think most mil pilots know this as well, which is why you dont often get mil guys slagging off civvies, especially if they have seen the other side.
The requirements of the two jobs are vastly different, hence training styles that are vastly different. I think the mil training works very well for what the guys are being set up to do for real. Im sure the same could be said for civvy training.
I guess the thing to remember when comparing mil to civ is that if a guy is a really good operator he will succeed in either path. I would guarantee that there are plenty of 777 skippers that would have made top mil pilots had they chosen that path. Doesnt mean all civvies would though, just as some mil pilots wont do too well flying civ.