I think that the 'apprenticeship' is still very relevant, it's just that so few new pilots want to undertake it having left their FTOs with visions of walking into a 737 the following Monday. Some do, and good luck to them.
I'm still waiting for my first airline job and fully expect to work my way up to a jet, learning my trade as i go.
I think that's what we might be in danger of missing out on as we aim too high to start with. Having said that, if I was offered a jet job, would I say "No thanks, I've got turboprop time to do"? No, of course not, who would!
So the next question is what kind of 'apprenticeship' should we do?
Should it be CPL/IR, then instruct? Or para drop/glider tow then on to air taxi or straight to turbo prop? And what time scale for all of these?