Some excellent posts in this thread.
P2F is indeed the cancer of the industry. I for one, being the 'chief pilot' of a one plane, two pilot ops have taken the only approach that I felt would make a difference: I donīt hire people that offer to pay, or even worse here in Germany, who get a typerating and a financial help by the job centres.
We already have at least one company that hires only unemployed pilots (which would be not bad in itself), pays them lousy and lay them off just before the 6 month financial help period is over. Then they get the next augmented one in.
This is a nightmare for all other companies and especially us pilots.
I'm 44 years old now, have financed my PPL, CPL, IFR and ATPL myself, but never paid a rating myself. Whilst I love flying, Iīd never recommend anyone to join the profession cause of the T&C eroding quicker than ever.
On a side note:
Ryanair would make no profit at all if they wouldnīt be subsidized heavily by airports, counties, city councils, tourist boards etcetc. This wonīt last forever, Iīm sure.