OK I'll bite.
There are a lot of variables for a GA business looking to employ a pilot. It is certainly not as simple as ringing up the first person to email and giving them a start date.
Characterising an employer on the basis of the use of one phrase is a bit unfair,
In our case, we use the term "Expressions of Interest" when we think we might need someone, but we're not 100% sure yet. It makes it clear that we are not committed to hiring anyone, but we would like a pool of applicants to interview and we are getting that ball rolling.
It makes no promises - it is quote clear that this may or may not come off, so you as an applicant are fully informed.
In the current atmosphere, that applies to most of the positions we have filled since 2019.
For a small business it would be unusual to need (or have the capacity) to employ more than one person at a time, so of the applications only a few will be short-listed and only one will get the job.
For the position (ok... EOI) which we advertised on AFAP (on the same day as this thread was posted, coincidentally) we received over 70 applicants in 10 days, more than half of whom didn't meet the advertised minimum experience. All of them, however, believed they would be able to bring something to the table and in most cases they would probably be right. The question is, do we need what you are bringing as much as we need what the other applicant has?
For small businesses, there are many reasons for progressing or rejecting a candidate.
The mix of abilities, qualifications and approvals currently available in the business might affect which of the applicants could be hired, trained and supervised.
An outstanding candidate with less than the minimum hours might stand out form the crowd.
A candidate with all the hours, types and qualifications might stand out but something about them means they are set aside.
Recently we have employed COVID-stranded jet pilots who thought their career was over, only to have their previous employer call them up a few short weeks after they passed their IPC and were checked to line - that is something we can't afford to repeat.
I don't know your personal circumstances or which job you were interested in, but I hope the above helps paint a picture.