Sgt, are you even aware of the number of aircraft in Australia that are legally maintained by other than LAMEs
No, and I qualified that in my post - my post was that if you look at what passes for self maintained in the automotive world then I would hate for that quality to flow through to the aircraft world.
I have no doubt there are people who do a better job looking after their pride and joy, and their own necks, than someone who would be hired for the job. Despite how my post seems to have been read I am not making sweeping statements about all self maintained aircraft and I don't make any claim to be knowledgeable about such matters.
I am simply saying I have seen what passes for amateur in other industries, and how cost minimisation works in some organisations and I believe some minimum standard of training and qualification is warranted for safety's sake.