It is the nature of any commercial venture to only change once cost justifies it.
True but it is the mind of the businessman that prefers to look at the profit of the cheaper option against the vast costs of having an accident.
A famous quote - I think from aviation - If you think safety is expensive, try having an accident.
I've been lucky enough not to have to continually take the risks that these pilots clearly accept as the day to day reality of having a job - in safety terms I think they call that risk normalisation and risky shift.
All activity carries risk - it is just how much and for how long you are willing to expose yourself to it that varies between individuals.
How does that other saying go? There are old pilots and there are bold pilots but there are very few old, bold pilots.