How we perceive ourselves to be and how the industry perceives us to be are distantly apart. There's little point in glorifying the nature the nature of our work, this will achieve little until the regulators, unions act. We are remunerated on how the bean counters have successfully underplayed our role.
MPL, integrated courses. Ask any of the factory churned pilots whether they would feel comfortable flying imc, solo and in s**t weather. The answer speaks words for the level of training and the passengers are yet to realise just how competent or incompetent the guys/girls in the pointy end can be.