A 'western styled lifestyle'. I
wonder what that is anymore. Considering housing in the USA, austerity in Europe, housing prices raising exponentially in mining areas in Australia... The days of sprawling land ownership in choice locations have slowly and surely been eroded with ever increasing interest rates and poor aviation job opportunities.
Asia in a nutshell has opportunities but with it comes cost of living and 'pigeon holed living. Pollution like any other industrialized area, corruption and less than ideal safety standards in certain countries. Those who were fortunate to be accorded the 'B' scales of yesteryears are slowly and surely becoming like the almost extinct 'A' scales much like the blue bloods from early ages.
No point fighting the inevitable wave of 'bean counting' economics when it's not the highest standards that prevails but employing the numbers that make the 'minimum requirements' suitable for training over a longer period.
The 250Hr fATPL and future MPL holders are and will be the 'apprentices' in the industry and it's either it's taken in stride to help nurture and develop these individuals to become a valued member of the team instilling the right company values or treated with disdain and chastised for accepting lower than 'standards' packages that no longer exists. To the senior guys...you can choose which mentor you want to be cos these same young 'apprentices' will inevitably be flying you and your families around after you retire on your staff benefits. In your airline or any airline.