Isn't all this willy waving great ? I can see why flying isn't treated as a profession anymore...
At the end of the day different operations demand different skills.I have as much respect for the knackered ryanair chap trying to do an NPA into some half arsed airfield in France, after 4 sectors - as much as the long haul chap, doing one sector into some bad wx/bad ATC dump in India or whereever.
It's a form of protectionism.....our plane/destinations/operation (delete as applicable) is harder than yours......We all do it really.My 10p is chambery with a tailwind in 75..
At the end of the day anyone coming off a 73 or whatever will be bright enough to appreciate it's going to be hard work with a new (bigger) aircraft, new destinations etc. I would hope a combination of decent training and the experience requirement would see them through.However as has been mentioned I doubt anyone without significant command time ona widebody will get a look in.