One particular operator employed mostly contractor pilots who got paid by the day. This operator repeatedly gave us unrealistic schedules which always blew out beyond duty limits.
I had more than one argument with a fellow contractor who saw no harm in busting duty and minimum rest limits. He considered the duty and rest requirements were for pussies. He also wanted the money, as did I, and did not get that if we had an incident or got audited the Company would hang us out to dry and no more money would be forthcoming once we had no licences.
Anyway, on several occasions I pulled delays of up to 24 hours to meet the rest requirements after 14 hour days which were always 'planned' to be 12 hours or less.
They never changed their ways with the nonsensical schedules but interestingly never challenged my delays either and I was never shortchanged on payday.
So, I think it was a case of the operator simply over promising the client (who was equally complicit in accepting the schedules knowing them to be pure fantasy) and hoping that the crews would suck it up.