Supply and Demand
It is just a simple law of business: SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
I believe one of the main reasons why sponsorship has fall away is that MANY pilots today are willing and CAN pay for their own training. It is like doctors in the USA. USA's Doctors take out loans worth hundreds of thousands of USD. They will recoup the investment later in life once experience is gained while acting as badly treated residences.
But, the aviation world has gone skew-if. Low hour pilots are supposed to be taken on and watched over by the more experienced commanders. Sadly it does not work this way and airlines are very erratic when it comes to selection of low houred pilots.
What airlines really want is people with experience and they are in high demand, but there are a lot pilots with fresh licenses who want to make the transition. Many airlines do not like to take the responsibility of training costs and risk. There is already too much risk in the industry.
For now inexperienced pilots will pay to get experience, as does the US' doctors... this may not change!!!
As for the future of pilots in flight decks? Lets just say your average joe public wants someone who is in control of the aircraft to have the same self preservation concern as they do when aviation is committed!!!
T'n'O