However, as much of a proponent of General Aviation flying I am, I don't think *forcing* pilots to start with GA is the right move.  The overwhelming majority of VATSIM pilots want to fly airliners because that is what they consider fun and that is what interests them.  Forcing them to first do X-dozen hours of something that they *don't* consider fun and that *doesn't* interest them is not the right way to go.  It's only going to chase them away.

I respect that opinion.  There might be some who would balk at the notion of having to learn the ropes through general aviation.  I do think you are looking at this though, as if VATSIM exists in a vacuum.  I don't want to dredge up the whole game vs sim argument, but flight simming and VATSIM are computer games.  Gamers in general are used to having to start at level one, and then advance, to gain more things in a game.  Many virtual airlines start "new hires" in turboprops, or regional jets until they build hours, and then get promoted, allowing them to fly larger aircraft.  Lastly, I'll give the example of iRacing.  You have to start at the bottom in iRacing, and show competence before you can move up in their divisions.  Yes iRacing is a paid service, but you can't just bull rush your way in, and say your gonna start out in the top tier stock car division on day one, yet iRacing thrives on that model.  Virtual airlines that require time building thrive.  First person shooters and RPG's thrive on the level up concept.  VATSIM could thrive as well...........if it wanted to.  Opinion as well.

3) Last year (IIRC), VATUSA was more worried about having exit interviews with S1s (who cares?) when we should have been focusing on our C1+'s that got fully certified, worked some hours, and went away. Who cares why the S1 who did minimal training to work a DEL/GND position left? You'd have much more meaningful feedback if we focused on the fully certified C1+s that left after certification. If we did that, I'm willing to bet that you'd be hearing the same thing about pilots over, and over, and over again...if you had that feedback last year, maybe we could have made meaningful impact network wide regarding pilot competency, and eliminating that as a factor for Burnout.

So let me see if I understand this.  Experienced controllers with years or decades under their belts are unhappy and leaving.  FNG's coming in as OBS/S1's getting an eyeful, then leaving shortly after joining.  Pilots are woefully unprepared, leading to negative experience for the experienced controllers.  Got it.

Experienced controllers leaving:
-Many of us have been there with lots of hobbies.  You set a goal, such as C1, work toward it, reach it, then realize that the fun was getting there, not being there. 
-Pilots ill prepared, reduce the immersion, and fun of controlling, resulting in no incentive to make controlling a priority when discretionary time is available.

New controller recruits leaving early:
-Excessive training requirements.
-Training based on "that's how we've always done it" mentality, prepared by people that have no background in teaching.
-Slow advancement.  Not enough on the job learning, and too much "sweatbox" with outdated scenarios that are counter productive
-Too many third party programs needed for a simple ATC session.

Pilots:
-In denial that even a little self study will go a long way in making their experience, and that of others much better.
-Refuse to start low and slow VFR, moving to flight following, graduating to GA IFR, then tackling airliners.  Nope, jump right into that PMDG 737, and go.


Solution:
-Narrow the gap between controller training, and pilot expectations. 
-Controller cert should not mirror real world exactly, and should not take a year to accomplish. More OTJ, low volume time on the live network, less didactic frat house training.
-Pilots should bear more responsibility for airspace knowledge.  New account good for VFR only.  Track account VFR flight following time, whenever a controller tags a users aircraft with a transponder code for flight following.  Set minimum hours, say 25 hours of VFR flight following in GA pistons.  Next step 25 hours of IFR GA pistons, tracked with controller tagging the user account by assigning the transponder code.  Then unlimited network use.

just want to say that this event was very cool.  I'd love to see it expanded to maybe be the weekend before Airventure, and more during the day on Saturday and Sunday.  Also, It'd be nice if VATSIM promoted the heck out of it like CTP.  The event was very fun, but could have been exceptional if more pilots knew about it, and flew in.  I think I only followed one aircraft in trail, both days combined.  I'll be looking for this event next year for sure.