Re: The Colgan crash mentioned above, it's probably worth mentioning that the C/A was a former "20th passenger" (ie. He had paid for the position of "first officer" flying a 1900 for Gulfstream International). As, IMS, were the pilots in several other recent crashes in the US.
I'm afraid we aren't so different over here...PIC time and real world experience is no longer at all the thing. More emphasis every year on "advanced simulator training" and/or having attended some sort of puppymill which will make the doormat buttonpusher to order!