You just have a lot more aviation in the States, so the low time guys build time once you get some time logged, you go to one of the Commuter Airlines for a couple of years and then to the Majors. Thats the Civil side of things from the other side there is the Navy Marines and Airforce, they all have airplanes, even the Army has airplanes too, thou its Helicopters with the Army. By tradition before 1980 90% of the New Airline Hires would have come from either the Navy or Airforce. But as things changed guys and gals off the Civil street were able to get in. Now its more civil since they fly more on the Civil side. The exception would be the last four years or so. Wars make for lots of flying that you would not normally do while in the service. Sure they take 250 guys is Asia or Europe, chances are in a lot of Nations there is just one carrier and no general aviation to speak off. All you have to do is look at China, they are in a scramble to fill seats, and most of the Instructor Pilots are coming from out side of the Country. Huge growth, no general aviation base to draw from, and well you put 250 hour pilots in the right seat while you look all over the world for Pilots that can fill in for Captain. In America, you have Uncle making pilots, and Uncle likes to keep them for as long as possible, you have a general aviation sector were just about anybody can join the club if the want to, you have lots of jobs for pilots to build time at so why should an Airline look at a 250 hour pilot? They never had to and they never will at least not in the US.