Is it not more likely that the 10 tonnes and multi crew requirements allows them to put these new captains on a zero flight time type rating and save themselves the costs of the circuits?
I think the arguments about kingairs/chieftains is all pretty null and void anyway as neither are multi crew aircraft and while any aircraft can in theory be operated multi crew, an atpl skills test has to be taken on an aircraft certified as multi crew. So presumably a lot of the people flying them are doing so whilst holding CPL's and not ATPL's and therefore don't hold an appropriate license to be the captain of a dash!