Traditionally people used to do their PPL, Flying Instructors Rating, or was it AFI first, spent years as an instructor and then CPL, fly turbo props and finally get in a Jet.
It used to take years, with long hours and low pay. But now there is the option of walking off the street and, eventually, into the flight deck of an Airbus.
Do people expect not to pay for that? So many moan and groan about the cost and the loan repayments. Do you really expect it for free? Can anyone of the old school estimate the cost of the traditional route before this 100K route came along?
Nobody holds a gun to anyones head on this. ALL airlines do it, not just EJ.
I'm not saying its right or that the costs are reasonable and representative but at the end of 5-7 years whatever it is, you have a lot of experience in a jet cockpit. I suspect it is the same time period and cost of the traditional route!!