The 1000 TPIC requirement exists because a good fighter pilot who does everything he's supposed to might not have much more than that. The ATP rule might force a few fighter guys to go rent 152's on weekends (which they can afford to do).

Some airlines require only 1000 turbine SIC. That is usually minimum, but not competitive, but it allows the airline to selectively hire anyone they want out of the right seat of 135 metroliner or king air....if they choose to do so.

Nobody (US airlines) has ever required many thousands of TPIC hours...that would eliminate almost all military guys unless they do a full 20. Additionally some majors at times prefer to hire regional CAs who have 1000-2000 hours...they've demonstrated the ability to stay out of trouble as PIC, but have not gotten so set in their ways or far removed from a training environment that they'll be hard to fit into a new mold.

DAL was even hiring people with 500-ish TPIC during the last wave because they were loosing too many new-hires to SWA, UPS, FDX.