It seems.to me that the company would prefer to have a higher MMG once times turn around since they are now getting more productivity out of each pilot. If you are using 4000 pilots at 75 hours a month instead of 6000 pilots at 50.hours a month you are still producing the same amount of Revenue passenger miles without needing 2000 more line checks, 2000 more sim checks, and 2000 health insurance policies.
additionally once a pilot hits the max social security income their hourly costs drop by the companies 6.2% FICA tax. There are more fixed costs each of us have that is more cost effective spread over more hours. At my company even just getting close to MMG instead of 12 to 25 hours over that is a pipe dream for jr guys.