I can do the maths of maximum likely retirement age vs. 34-year pay scale, but is that the only thing people are referring to?
No, it's not just the pay, it's the fact that given the current rate of progression,and the fact that the first tranche of FPPs are already on the seniority list it will take a long time for the DEPs to get a command and/or get a Long Haul seat. Any older DEPS joining in the next few years need to be aware that if the current P&P system or something like it stays in place they could quite possibly "time out" before achieving a Status/Fleet change.