Good post, Progressive, you've pretty much nailed it.
Unfortunately there will always be "white ants" in this industry. I get unsolicited job applications from people offering to work for me for free, or even pay me to employ them...so until the day comes when pilots can pick and chose the entry level jobs that's always going to be the case. Would be nice to have a pilots' market and turn the tables on those employers who pay below award and do sham contracting left unable to find anyone to exploit. But for as long as there is fee help churning out a supply of brand new CPLs, the problem will prevail. People who paid for their own training tend to value themselves more highly and have already shown that they have a commitment as well as life experience.
One thing we don't need is the kind of press full of saccharin tokens covered in bling.