Guessing your other just was non-aviation.
I'm in a specialised area of IT and have had business class tickets, 5 star accomodation and car hire paid for just to get to an interview, but that is because there aren't so many people with the qualifications and experience I have in IT, whereas aviation is a little different.
Not to mention the fact that many people WILL pay for it themselves, so why incur the extra cost when the next person will pay for it?
Aviation is unique, name me one other profession where people are willing to pay for experience?
I used to work on tourist boats and know that everyone on the bridge worked their way up to their qualifications and didn't buy the sea time required to attain the next level.
(Sorry to go off on a tangent here)