I don't think that Virgin or Jetstar (much less their parent company) are "marginal" operators, yet they are effectively the pace-setters in this trend.
I do feel sorry for the NJS blokes who were effectively shanghaied into this by QF who, (via a competing offer from Jetstar) left little option if the NJS pilots wanted to keep their jobs.
I too have been bonded in the past, and was quite willing to accept that. What irks me now is that, after 30 years in aviation, I just may have to buy my own rating in order to get a decent job. Worse still, I will get no relief from the ATO in terms of a tax deduction.