First of all the FAA limits airlines to 1000 hours.
In addition to that no airline get close to the limit. After all you don't run your car at Red Line why would an airline run it's pilots at Red Line unless they are inviting disaster.
You are right I don't understand why or how pilots allow the things that happen to them to carry on. I know in the sand you have no rights and have the contract to prove it but Europe? They have strong unions, stronger even then in the US.