"This seems like a bunch of pilots who want to live the dream without investing the effort. Again, this is my ignorance, so maybe some of the following posts can enlighten me"

No man, you got it right. You can buy your way into anything now, even an airline job. No need to waste time instructing or building any real experience, just sign on this here dotted line.......

I've always liked ATP, not many people complain about them as opposed to a DCA. I don't like what this program has become, though. It's partly just a marketing ploy, which is bad enough, but putting such low time guys in airline jets, as their first job in aviation, is a disgrace to the profession.