KRUSTY,
I believe your comment about future insurance is correct. I know its been said many times before but I do think there will be a shortage of pilots in the not too distant future. All the statistics from around the world are pointing to a downturn in aviation training, very noticeably here and in the US.
It wouldn't take much of a demand to soon clean out the upper ranks of the regionals ( a la 2007) and there won't be the numbers coming through to quickly replace them. The immediate answer would be better terms & conditions but I can't see that happening either. Cadets schemes is the other answer.
Now what standard of training will they get?