I find it hard to believe that a Rex cadet with say a few thousand hours in the RHS of a Saab is less employable than say a thousand hour GA pilot? Yes the cadet won't have the 500 hours multi engine command under the ifr but they will have airline experience, doesnt that account for anything?
Once employed by a larger airline with a high capacity AOC any time logged from the RHS will be as command time, multi engine and ifr hence the 500 hours to gain a command/ATPL will be quickly obtained.
I have heard that often people are employed for companies (including the large airlines) even when they do not have the current criteria, so maybe there is a chance for the rex cadets in a few years time once the hours and experience have been acquired?!?