I don't understand why it's so difficult for pilots to understand this.

I could quote most of the posters on this thread saying the same thing (except for hindsight who seems to get it)... There is a common theme here that goes pretty much like this....

Why can't airline pilots understand the simple concept that they aren't entitled to anything. As long as they allow management and the unions to control pay instead of them it will keep getting lower.

And the fact that the only reason a low time pilot can even get an airline job is because the pay is so low few others want it.