and I am sure Cathay are not recruiting direct entry FO's
Now I see the problem.
If you'd said that you thought Cathay's C-scale local package was undervaluing our profession, you'd have gained much respect and "street cred" here (maybe even from twotigers).
Instead you come across as someone who thinks he's "above" being a SO. Well, let me explain to you that based upon the fact that you don't have the hours for Dragon, LOTS of people with a lot more experience than you have joined Cathay via the SO track.
And when Cathay experimented with direct entry FOs a few years ago, there was quite a bit of that "attitude" in some of the recruits.