Albergineman
If you look around you will find that most reputable airlines require 4000-5000 hours, and for good reason. Nobody disputes the fact there are some people that can do the job well with 3500, however there are many who can't.
Furthermore with the degradation of basic piloting skills through the use of modern automation and indeed in some cases, cadet pilot programs, we have further problem. When you consider the actual 'stick time' or actual handling time with the autopilot off on any given flight in our system, you soon realize that the pilot only really 'handles' the flight controls for a few minutes on every flight and the rest of time is spent 'monitoring' or manipulating the autopilot.
So what's the problem with that? Well, as good as these aircraft are, their Achilles heel is exposed when you have a major failure and you are forced to really fly and not push buttons. Unreliable airspeed, emergency electric configuration, multiple hydraulic failures etc. leave the unskilled pilot or shall we say 'rusty' pilot in a pretty uncomfortable position. Indeed add a bit of weather or poor airport facilities or even a cadet pilot in the right hand seat and things can deteriorate fairly rapidly.
So all of a sudden the 3500 hrs has been shaved down to perhaps a few hundred of actual flying (handling) time.