4468, the reason BA is used is because it is or was considered a benchmark by a lot of senior people here, or it used to be, given the numbers from the uk in various roles employed.
Backhanded as it may seem, I'd view BA being used as an example as a positive, at least we can hang on to that, rather than how wonderful Ansett used to be.
Maybe given time, you won't have to read much more about it on here 4468, the numbers of recruits from more "austere" locations and regulatory environments is definitely on the increase at EK...I even had occasion to remind the TRI on the flight deck that conversing in English rather than his native version meant I could understand what him and my F/O were discussing during our line check.