The industry has changed significantly. Yes I believe that airlines do indeed look at newly qualified individuals more so than experienced - certainly for short haul operations.
Most experienced guys want a salary from day 1 of starting with an employer and don't really want to pay for a TR, and will point-blank refuse to be bonded for an aircraft type they already fly.
Cadets, on the other hand, will happily work for nothing on their TR course, pay for the course, have a reduced salary for x-months, and be very happy in life - until of course they come to change jobs, and find a load of new guys competing for those jobs too.
Experienced guys start to look distinctly uncompetitive.