I get the feeling that a part of the reason that cadets get a bashing is that the selection procedure that these guys go through to get their ticket is ultimately down to cash and not ability.
Yes there has to be the ability to pass the minimum standards for theory and the various flight tests along the way, but with money and time these can be passed at the 75% score level or equivalent. Even where 95% is pushed for the writtens, the difference between theory and practical is massive and there are no grades for flying assessments, only pass-partial-fail.
There will be good guys and not so good guys in the end, but since the initial screen is far more about money than it is skill, you're bound to end up with an overall lower average / modal level of skill. This doesn't do any favours for the reputation of anyone in the cadet stream.