When time to command in Emirates is circa 5-7 years, why would a 4 year guy leave to return to the bottom of the VS seniority list?
Returning to the issue of recruiting only relevant rated people, and ignoring those on vastly different types, all stems from the airline concern over training risk. I.e. The guy already on a Boeing, is quite likely to pass the course.
But this argument does break down at VS. I have witnessed with my own eyes the recruitment of Airbus guys to hold pool, then thrown on the 747. And in this case, they are just as likely to pass the course as the regional jet guys. Maybe even less so if the side-stick has robbed them of their talent.