Sure you have good points and I agree that once the Congress has spoken it is a done deal. The time to argue was prior to that and that is also the period of public comment but surely the experts should have had more to say instead of rolling over. Sequestration has made it difficult for honesty and integrity because of the fighting for the public purse that has become necessary.
The needs of a pilot are not driven exclusively by money. Some things cannot be changed, such as schedules. Money does not compensate in most cases so raising salaries will not necessarily make any difference. I don't blame a pilot for wanting the gold ring, and if he chooses the big iron, more power to him. In the old days there were plenty of pilots who did not aspire to an airline career, and wanted a local job. Not many of those left.