If you want it bad enough you'll find a way to get there
...and turning down a sponsorship is the way to do that is it?
Let's be honest, in an ideal world the industry would have a nice structured entry system for wannabe pilots (like most other professions!). Lots of openings for low houred pilots were they could earn their spurs and progress through the ranks to get to the jet job they are after. We do however live in the real world and that's just not the way it is. Even if wannabes did want to take the route you seem to think we should all follow, I'm afraid there are not many oppertunities to get onto the bottom rung. So when the oppertunity 'does' comes along to (as long as you work your b*lls off) gain that coverted jet job, people should not be chastised for grabbing it with both hands and never letting go!