I do this job because I like piloting aeroplanes.
I have no problem "keeping up" with old school stuff, because I am usually mucking about with the whizz wheel on longer boring sectors, working out a PNR or two, even on shorter sectors I work out Equi-time points to company diversion airports en-route, I brief emergency descent memory items when flying over high terrain (the Alps, the Pyrenees), and get the FO to rattle off (well, usually stumble through
) their actions ...
As I changed my licence from the Aussie ATPL to a JAR licence I had to do all 14 JAR ATPL exams - and I quite enjoyed the challenge
I sat all 14 exams in two consecutive, 7 exam sessions without any trouble.