This sort of situation happens from time to time. Before you start accusing people of all sorts of terrible things though, everyone should take a step back and think a bit.
I am a UK self-funded ATPL(H), started as an hours building instructor. I "subsidised" myself through the early years by paying a fortune to train; I then supported myself by doing consultancy work in my previous profession while waiting for any instruction/flying time that came along. It was nearly 5 years before I was able to support myself flying. I was lucky to be able to do that - Is it unfair that I was able/willing to do this when others could or chose not to?
The basic problem is one of supply and demand. Lots of us want to fly helicopters; the demand for such services is limited and very variable. This enables employers/operators to pick and choose and force down the price (especially if they are not concerned with quality).
My personal preference would be to see more helicopter flying. Overall though, I do not think this is going to happen - if you want to have a go at somebody I would moan about the gross over-regulation and the burdens that imposes on the industry. This reduces the total amount of flying considerably (UK anyway)