There are some pilots who now rest on their laurels and deign to study any more than is absolutely necessary to keep their job
That's true, and CASA with its exams are of little help. ATPL(H) candidates had to learn 767 EFIS and pressurisation - neither of which had any application to (H).
Sim scores and check rides don't always give the whole picture about an individual
How would you score an individual, carrying two pax, who took off in a piston twin and had a double engine failure as a result of refuelling with Jet. Inevitable crash, but all survived. Had it been DJ he would be nailed to the cross and flailed to within an inch for not doing a fuel check, noticing the signage on the truck, or checking the fuel release note. Something most would hardly expect of a student. Bob Hoover was the guy, just showing that no matter how good you are, you are human, and predisposed to making the simplest of errors, for any multitude of reasons.