Hehe, good answer deskbound!
At least Eastern are still offering the bond, and not a TRSS for the Jetstream. A self-sponsored rating on a rather less-than-ubiquitous type would have been a bitter pill to swallow. Sadly, there is a chance that the beancounters probably thought about it. Perhaps sadder still, someone somewhere would probably have taken the deal.
This could still prove to be something of a watershed in recruitment terms. I'm sure Eastern are the first of the entry-level carriers to introduce candidate fees and delay the payroll until the new FO takes their seat on the flight deck. Given the history of the last few years we may find the other entry-level airlines following suit.
As we speak, there will be unemployed CPLs everywhere putting their hands down the back of the couch for loose change or looking up that long-lost great uncle...
Now if they would only offer to bond new entrants onto the Saabs...
(As an aside, I've been reading these forums for a few years now. Since, in fact, the days when WWW was looking for his first job and cutting his teeth as an instructor. So much has changed in this industry since then and reading his post put that into perspective).