You'll have to excuse me if I'm missing you logical connection here.
The captain had 3300 hours, mostly in large transport and commuter category aircraft. You feel that since this was in larger aircraft he lacked sufficient experience.
You feel if the captain had rented a Cessna 172 and flown for 1500 hours prior to flying at an airline he would be better experienced?
My point is that this new rule pretty much forces people to go from a Cessna 172 to a large transport category aircraft now that smaller air carriers that operate "intermediate" aircraft will start falling by the wayside to to increasing pressure from the FAA.
There are many problems working into the experience issue. I agree with your general premise that more experience is needed for this new generation of pilots, but I think this rule is counterproductive to that goal. What aircraft and type of operation do you feel is the proper step between flying a Cessna 172 and flying a Beech 1900D (which is where that captain "cut his teeth")?