I always have to be the devils advocate, sure TT normally equates to more experience, but who here knows the 5000TT pilot they would never get in a seat with?
Also, is in the air the only way to get experience? Did you learn how to read charts by calling the FSS when airborne? How many here went military, learned it all in 100 or 200 TT then went out and dropped bombs or flew patrol? You are certainly better at challenging tasks, but were you not qualified when they put you out there?
Wouldn't you rather have good training, combined with practical experience rather than just practical experience? You're right, you magically have 2000 TT and you are now a God to us non-atp pilots. I have way more respect for a 1000 hr part 135 freight dawg at 2am in icing on an ILS with old boots, than a 5000 hr captain in a CRJ700 with hot wings, radar, and 3000 hrs airlift time (a lot of transoceanic high altitude work).
This is a challenging job that requires respect, courage and a lot of intelligence. Experience gets you experience, not intelligence. There's a good chance that C208 shouldn't be in the soup at 2am on the ILS in icing.
Rant Done.