CVS
Why do you think things are in this state to begin with. Those who paid for ratings and worked for peanuts gave the operators a stick with which to beat pilots, which they've used effectively to increase the barrier to entry for most. As for failing standards, 4runner is spot on. The one who gets the job is the one with money in his pocket to buy a rating, not the most qualified individual. Your friend is now in that situation created by the people to whom 4runner refers, people who have no problems screwing their colleagues.
The point you make regarding supply and demand is invalid. Influencing the balance by buying ratings skews the whole system and we end up with the problem we have today - plenty of low time pilots with expensive ratings but they're pretty much unemployable. The company I fly for has been stung in the past and will have nothing to do with them. You get the job based on your experience and suitability for the position. High time on type is a pre requisite, something that buying a rating won't provide.