MB:-
How the hell did we cope 40 years ago when the RAF had more squadrons than it now has FJs?
Very well, because Air Safety spending was ring fenced, SVOs did not seek to subvert it by ordering the suborning of the Regulations, experienced and trained engineers knew the Regs and implemented them to the letter, instead of being sacked and replaced by those who didn't and weren't, and the Regulations were gradually modified and updated instead of being trashed and replaced from an MAA Year Zero.
In other words we had been spared an H-C 'Golden Period' back then!