DMF - I've certainly not come out here with rose coloured specs!!!
I think you'll find that people joining now haven't come for the money (what money ??) or to get rich. I certainly haven't. I've come here so my family can live somewhere decent and not in grimy, dank crappy UK.
Oh yes, the school that my children go to is about a 30 minute roundtrip, and they do come out at different times of day. BUT we don't have a problem with that. The kids need schooling, simple.
You did mention the one thing that would be a real pisser and that's direct entry captains. Will they or won't they ?? We'll have to wait and see.
Other than that it's pretty much as I expected - any where you go the company you work for is going to take the piss. I'd rather have the piss taken here than elsewhere.
Bullshot - kids only grow into pouting little expats if their parents let them. Have you had a bad experience with other peoples pouting little kids ??