I imagine it's partly a case of "anyone who didn't do it exactly the way I did got it easy" and partly shock when people look back at how little they knew when they got hired. Probably similar to when I look at the lack of knowledge of student pilots it shocks me to realize how little I really knew when I went on my first solo cross country.
Personally I've learned so much as a CFI I couldn't imagine even trying to go to the airlines without having experienced it all. But I'm not about to say "anyone who wasn't a CFI for ____ hundred hours has no place at the airlines (of course no one could say I'm qualified to make that statement anyways). But I'm also willing placing my faith in the airline training departments and the associated FAA oversight to weed out anyone who doesn't belong there. Whether that faith is misplaced...I may find out for myself sooner than DE727 would prefer
