Because the people in charge of hiring have made it clear at all the job fairs I have gone to that while yes PIC time is a very desirable attribute for a candidate to have, United looks at the total package of the applicant and scores them accordingly. The FO's getting hired might not have PIC time, but have served on many different committees for their union (Safety,FOQA,etc), have unique leadership experiences from different times/professions in their lives, active in other volunteer associations in their community, have busted their ass to get to as many job fairs as possible, updated their app religiously and have kept a positive attitude all while being stuck in the right seat for 8-10 years making 30K or so a year.

VS a good amount of those guys that gave up their good schedule for PIC time or that actually had the opportunity to do so might have nothing else to their name besides 5K pic. No extra curricular activities, no special attributes in their career to help distinguish who they are as a person and an aviator. Has attended no job fairs... you get the point. This of course is not a generalization of those that have racked up the PIC time, just a point that not all PIC guys are equal either.

This is of course is just my opinion I have formulated over the years of following the United hiring process and speaking with the recruiters/hiring managers/Chief Pilot. Simply put, the FO's getting hired are not rank and file, unmotivated right seat warmers. They more than likely are becoming excellent additions to your pilot group despite their PIC handicap.