I don't understand how you can say we have the industry or yourself over a barrel. All we try and do is our job correctly to the m/m and to the regs. Neither of which as lames we have control over. Most operators treat the Maint org as there personal bank. Bet you can't get your car serviced and pick it up and say I'll pay you later. Sorry sir you need to pay for it before it leaves the premises. But you expect credit from your maintenance org. If you don't like your maintence org take your aircraft else where that's a given. But it's not the lame fault that your aircraft a piece of ****. As what often happens you get it for a service after it's been neglected for ages. You get it up to speed then you cry poor on how much it cost. Then next service you take it else where. Next service chep as cause all the work is done. This continues until it's back again and the cycle continues. Mm and whilst you may be happy to have your plugs competely worn and be happy with that the lame has a duty of care to the person sitting next and behind you as they have no idea what's been done. It's also not the lame responsabity for the cost of parts if they required to make the aircraft serviceable. If you can't afford to maintain your aircraft to the standard required sell it and then rent an aircraft for your flight.
At the end of the day it's not the lame responsabity to subaduze your flying pleasure. Until you wake up up and relize this quickly there won't be any lames and then you will have to pay.