I can think of a few FIs and CPL holders I wouldn't go flying with
A sign of the times I'm afraid. In those days even a green PPL could be trusted, people in those days generally didn't have disposal income, in fact none of the pilots I knew did. What they did to raise the income to learn to fly was by means of hard labour put in after they finished their day jobs. Three of the gentlemen I knew dug septic pits in their spare time to raise the cash.