PAPI,
who has to re-mortgage his family house, leave his wife and kids and focus on the flying ahead?
That says to me someone has their priorities all wrong.
And my hour building took me into 5 different countries. More than a SAR pilot would see or an RAF boy during training.
Flying in 5 different countries is harder than hovering over a moving deck at night on fuel minima....how?
How long would it take to get 3000hrs experience - probably a whole career?
So what? 3000 hours sat behind an autopilot vs 300 hours SAR - who would you want to save your wife and kids (if you still have them of course).
The helicopter world is full of all sorts of people with all sorts of background with all sorts of experience. It doesn't necessarily make one a better pilot than another. But there is one common trait that all the good pilots I have met have: Respect.