I think there are lots of good issues being discussed in this forum.
However, I do have a question... How much training is a GA employer willing to put into a new employee?
I'm sorry if this is a silly question but I come from a background in business and EVERY job I have ever had, there has been training involved (yes I've been to uni as well). I get that these programs churn out more numbers and attitude than they probably should but if someone from these providers came to you with a license and a willingness to learn and grow as a pilot, is that still no good?
While 30 years ago guys may have paid for the training themselves, that's not entirely viable for a lot of people today. But hey, people also bought homes with $300 in their bank account 30 years ago... Lets please not try and pretend times haven't changed.