CL, I honestly think that Nick and you have quite a bit in common with all due resepct to both of you. It seems both of you reason in rather similar ways and I don't believe it is because you two may come from the same country. Then, it's hard to overlook how both of you polarize on forums topics. In case you haven't noticed, Nick is far from being honest and his reasoning more often does not make any sense. Jast take a look at how much experience he says he's got on mainland, and then how much he wants the readers to believe him. See how he posts that he is leaving China for UK and how he wants to teach and develop in other countries than China, but then a few months later he is still in China..well on many forums at least and with a fairly sleazy approach which you so much admire.

So, why should the education be such a cut throat business on mainland China? It's quite simple. If there aren't any students interested, then there will not be any schools. If there aren't any teachers interested, then there will not be anyone to teach and so no schools too. Just imagine how difficult may a job of one recruiter be, if there aren't any schools or interested teachers!

Cheers and beers :)