I never understood why the 700 hour CPL / IR route was discontinued. 700 hours doesn't sound a lot but that was 700 hours of real stick and rudder time - PPL instructing, para dropping, glider tugging; loads of take offs and landings, all sorts of 'situations' to deal with and no automatics. An ideal 'basic flying' grounding on which to build a professional skill profile.
Highly unlikely someone with that background would stall an aeroplane all the way into the ground (Buffalo, AF447, and now this one).