That sort of ****box machine is pretty much evidence of the way the industry works, and is believed to be the normal thing.
Why are so many aircraft like the ones described? I think basically because people don't charge appropriate rates for their aircraft. In an effort to get work, they have rates that don't support the REAL cost of operation. Undercut the mob next door just to get more work, don't pay good wages, don't put money into the right maintenance. The old mob next door gets cheaper again and gets the work back but are spending even less now on the aircraft. Cycle repeats.
The attitude gets to me sometimes. Owners, operators, maintainers etc should have a hell of a lot more pride in their service and equipment, and if everyone charges appropriately for such a service the quality of aircraft etc can only increase. Being a tightarse is easy; doing it properly is hard, and those that do it properly should be supported.
Some of the **** that goes on out there is beyond a joke.