Companies will take what they can get because of past experiences.
People have historically used the smaller companies as a stepping stone, with the same disregard. I once trained a whole string of pilots for a small operation with turbo-props. They came in one door, got their licence stamped, said thanks, and walked out of another door, sometimes never touched the airplane again. The boss protested–vigorously–that they gave him their word.
I was once asked for 16,000 quid for a type rating on a 727. (a lot of money in those days) It was a tad more than the cost in Dallas at that time. I finally said that I would pay it into escrow, in their solicitor's coffers--with the interest going to me.....but NOT into a shaky airline's empty barrel. They accepted.