There have always been stepping stones along the way in an Aviation career. "If only I could crack that 172 job". "Just another 100 hours and I can move up to the Baron". "Yippee! Finally got an interview with the regionals." etc, etc... In fact it's been the cornerstone of many a rise to the top.
Unfortunately we now have that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow being filled with lead. Ambition is fine fellas, in fact it's vital to suceed in this game, but once you've reached a level where you are flying RPT, settling for crap T&C's because it's still a stepping stone, may end up seeeing that last stone covered with moss!
We now have people carrying that attitude over to the major airlines. If you think $47K for flying a Braz' is crap, how about $45K to fly an A320! Airline management everywhere are snug in the knowledge that they have pilot's and their attitudes worked out.
Habbits are hard to break it seems.