This is what happens when an airline is run by greedy, incompetent and self serving people. The ones making the decisions to employ pilots without the necessary financial support to live comfortably are themselves the very people enjoying the highest housing allowance, salaries, benefits and bonuses in the company. The mention of how you were treated during your interview (economy class tickets, no hotel etc) is, as you correctly surmise, evidence of how little they value you and how they would have treated you going forward. Good decision in the end to decide not to come. It would have proved unworkable. Best wishes for the future.