I know of at least 7 people who missed out in their first interview but all go in on the second go. It did take over 12 months for a second go though.
As for waiting a couple of years for a command, how long did it take in Ansett and how long does it take in Quaintass. Even if it took 5 years you would still be way in front. How many Ansett F/O's got command on the NG after only a few months but were still years away in Ansett. Sounds like a good move to me.
If you have a jet command O/S than it may not be for you unless you really want to get back home. Those who take jobs are not scabs. Think back to when you all were in G/A and would have cut off your right nut to fly a jet. If a bloke can fall out of a Navajo into a 737-800 and in 2 years have a command good on them. This business of having to have 10 years in the right seat is an Australian mind set that we have had drilled into us since we started flying. Remember when you could not get a job on a Chieftain unless you had 3000 hours total. Why? Because the bloke before you had to have 3000 hour as did the bloke before him. Most incidents so far in
VB have involved high time captains.