I have followed this thread with interest as the subject of the quality of instructing today is near to my heart. The reality is instructing is an entry level job. I got my start in commercial aviation as an instructor and am proud to say I maintain my Class 1 instructor rating even though it is a serious pain to get it renewed. However I only do a bit of freelance instructing to people who are friends of mine. I would never be a full time instructor again because it simply does not pay enough and instructors are frankly treated like S*** by almost every one in aviation. It is unfortunate most flying training candidates do not understand the motto " you get what you pay for ". The irony ,of course , is I now have much more to offer as an instructor than I ever did when I worked the job full time.
I don't think things are ever going to change. Most folks are going to get their initial private and commercial training from a young, poorly paid , low houred instructor, now and for the forseeable future. IMHO the way to higher standards rests with the Chief Flying Instructor. In Canada , at least CFI's are rubber stamped by the Fed's. Yet I have seen the impact a really good CFI has had. If all those young instructors have effective supervision , and guidance from someone who cares you will get good instruction. I think there should be a profesional body that provides the CFI designation, and all Flying training units should have to have a proper CFI if they want to be approved.
That is my two cents.