'They all know that it's a sh1t gig, but for their own reasons won't ever admit it.'
You hit the nail on the head Narrow Runway. This is certainly part ( but not the whole ) problem. Proud pilots refusing to admit that their current conditions are vile out of embarrassment or whatever other reason,hence their is no push to improve our plight. The best they can come up with is 'roster is good and reasonably close to home'. Sorry that isn't a career for the long run. Its also not acceptable, in my eyes, to be a contractor for my whole career.Being a contractor for a prolonged period has a detrimental effect on public health/social welfare benefits. A full PAYE workers get far more as the employer pays more than a self employed individual. Self employed individuals are in a lower benefits band.
In most industries contracts are seen as short term 'fixes'.However Ryanair has abused this and created the 'contractor for life' group.