This ruling is good news to aviation safety. I have flown with pilots as a new 737 captain that made us a single pilot airliner. We made it through the night but it isn't right. Anybody who gets into the right seat of a jet airliner should be qualified to fly it himself. What happens if the captain is incapacitated? Our airline hired only qualified pilots but this one slipped through because he knew a chief pilot that slid him through with his push. 1500 hrs isn't a lot of time but it is better than 250.
I agree an ATP should also be required for the P51 guys that show time they didn't really fly. Not being able to pass the ATP would show possible fraud.