You get what you pay for!
I repeat: "I would be very interested to know how often an oil company has awarded contracts to anyone other than the cheapest bidder?"
Come on chopperpunter, are you really saying that you are happy flying in equipment that is being offered to you by Operator A because he thinks he can do it cheaper than Operator B AND still provide a better service.
Peanuts = monkeys and your own industry is the same as anyone else's in that respect.