In the military you get on a supersonic jet with about 250 hrs TT.
Absolutely correct, sadly today everything is about money. But if the selection is right and you have the skills all it takes is good training, not 1500 hours of flying around in a seneca having been initially instructed by a 300 hrs guy.
There is no shortage, and frankly if there ever is a lack of captains there are unfortunately plenty of bankrupt airlines which can solve the problem, just pay the cash.
The only times I have seen aircraft on the ground due to so called pilot shortages, is because either they didn' t hire enough in the first place to save money, or because in some countries it takes more than 1 year to releasea 10000 hrs capt on the line. Change the local Civil Aviation Authority and problem solved.