Bealzebub
The people coming through this system appear to be reasonably stable, mature, sensible individuals with a solid grounding and a keen ability to learn quickly. I have already said that, if that changes I will let you know.
If you are seeing the end product then you wont see the drop in standards for a year or more. I agree the "product" in the past has been all of those things you have said.
But to make myself clear there are two points that I would like to make.
1. Selection has changed and just about anyone with the cash can get in. (I have also herd that the instructors in NZ have NO selection at all anymore. They previously did the same/similar selection as cadets) This will obviously save a lot of money and reduce standards also.
2. The quality of the new course has been reduced. The new course started about Feb 2010. So you wont see the cadets until late 2011 (depending what stage you see them.)
Let us know how the standard holds out against all these odds.