It depends on how you look at it. According to your logic very few legacy jobs are "earned" as you call it. Often it's being in the right place at the right time. Did my friend who got hired at SWA because he went through FFDO training with their chief pilot "earn" his job? Do all of the pilots with the right connections "earn" their job? It's often who you know or being lucky and in the right place at the right time. A school mate of mine was neighbors with M.B. who was the HR gal at NWA in charge of pilot hiring. He got on very young with no PIC, did he "earn" it? If you are more than qualified and get on I'd say you "earned" it. How many 300 hour FO's did you fly with back in 2007 who "earned" their job? I believe that your "earned" analogy is a little out of whack. I don't think a single flow up that I know feels any guilt over it as everyone who flowed was well beyond qualified and deserving of the job.