My ATPL means that I can fly for hire or reward. That means money. Hours aren't a reward. I can't take my log book down to the local shops and expect to buy food with it.
I respect my licenses and the effort it took to get them. I am a professional pilot and will not work for free.
I don't ask the apprentice hair dresser to cut my hair for free. Why should I?
I don't ask the plumber to sort out a drain for free. He'd walk out.
If I asked an accountant to sort my tax for free, it wouldn't get done OR I'd be suspicious of the care and attention paid to my finances.
People think that they can accept the rubbish conditions for their first jet job because then they can get hours and move to BA or Virgin Atlantic. Think again, the conditions at BA aren't what they used to be, probably because new pilots have happy to accept rubbish conditions for their first jet job. This means that BA have had to compete with low cost/low wage carriers which has a negative effect on their own salaries. Note, Virgin Atlantic still have a higher hour requirement for their crews so aren't as susceptible to the pay for rating/pay for hours deals.
Yes, a jet job is desirable for many reasons. It took me 18 years to get one.