Hi Jack, all good questions to ask. If more guys thought like you, the T&C's would probably rise. Sadly, if I was a young thrusting pilot with a few thousand hours and a decent type rating, I would be looking East. The way aviation is regarded and taxed in the Uk and EU, it is a dying industry. For a semi decent lifestyle and decent money , stay out of the U.K. By decent money , I'm talking 100K+ take home.
Many of us in BA do ok because we joined 20+ years ago, and are towards the top of the seniority lists for bidding. Many live abroad, paying reduced levels of taxation.
If I had other options, I don't think I'd join BA again, knowing I'd be stuck in the SE.