I have nearly 10,000 hours and only 650 I/F time, with most of that aquired in Europe. That is with the A/P disengaged and hand flying the a/c. Any monkey can fly in cloud with the A/P engaged. It is sorting yourself out when you get a bit of head spin that seperates the men from the boys!
Just as G/A pilots (of which I was one for many years) can slot into airlines, so too can airline pilots make the transition back to G/A. Some of the separtist attitudes displayed here are not only uniquely Australian, they are indeed quite sad also.
The RFDS is a great organisation and the work is diversified and at times demanding. A quick check ride in the a/c or is a sim will very quickly put any pretenders on notice.