Interesting post IsDon...I have been in the industry 30 years next year and have seen only one period where there was a "pilot shortage" during 2007-9. Having said that the company I work for has seen over 70 pilots walk out the door in the last 18 months due to poor management decisions via the 2014 pilot contract "negotiations".
Admittedly the company I work for is overseas, however my point is that all these pilots have walked into better pay and in most cases better conditions. The recruitment going on in China is significant and has taken quite a few of our pilots, as has Viet Nam, Middle East and Iceland. If this drive continues it will have an effect eventually. Not only in pilot numbers but in wages. Currently some offers are as high as US290K per annum - NET. If coming retirement numbers are significant in QANTAS and the requirement for pilots continue from areas like China then your comments may prove prophetic IsDon...