The explosive growth in air travel has not been managed well by the airlines since it started back in the 90's. Because of this, opportunist executives saw a possibility of financial gain using the low cost model which many have crafted and customised for their model. The perverse idea of pay for training was a bad idea that was spawned from this growth and has woven itself into the fabric of aviation. Quick turnarounds, sales gimmicks on board, cuts in other crucial positions, have all contributed to this stew in the name of making more money with less resources and working your staff to the limit ( and sometimes beyond) in the name of productivity. While some people won't agree with my opinion, it has led to the demise of what was once a proud and distinguished profession.
My .02