Why is that "good"?

If you are hired at 9E with 1000tt, that means you'll have about 3 years at a minimum before you are even eligible to upgrade. That means if there aren't enough qualified to upgrade, QOL drops due to short staffing and possible street captains. If minimums were just slightly reduced to ICAO requirements (2500tt) that would open up a larger pool of upgrade candidates and provide a MUCH NEEDED payraise to Pinnacle FOs.

The more summers and winters one flies through the better captain they are going to be...but I would think after 2+ years in the airplane somebody would be more than capable to pass upgrade and be a safe captain.