Unfortunately, there is no perfect way to train pilots for the airlines. The “traditional” way sounds romantic, but it has so many variables that it is basically a random process. A structured Ab Initio pathway should have better results if the proper people are in charge of the curriculum and can weed out underperforming students without regard to such sensitive issues as sex or ethnic background. It also depends on how the individual learns. Some people learn by doing, others by reading instruction manuals. Unless the program has the flexibility to accommodate those differences, the structured program will produce a bunch of well trained robots, rather than well-rounded pilots.