And to be honest the IAA is one of the more professional Aviation Authorities in Europe
That was funny!
I think ability counts much more than hours. I have seen some guys who has "thousands of hours" and yet can't fly a SE ILS within limits.
The problem of course is that both ability AND experience are required. No one is advocating hiring people with experience but no ability.
The guy that has "thousands of hours" and cannot fly an ILS must have been even worse when he had 200 hours.
The guy that is "brilliant" with 200 hours will be even better when he can back it all up with some experience.
Regardless of ability flying teaches most of us some important lessons early on. It is best that those lessons are not learnt with 200 souls on board and that is the FAA interpretation.
Anyone saying otherwise is trying to sell you something, either their own inexperience or their training/hiring (cost cutting) system.