Today we are making about 2 new ATPs for every retiring airline pilot. Emerald Coast still has plenty of people paying to get a leg up in competitive interviews. Job fairs are still being attended by pilots trying to get some edge to gain consideration for their jobs. Companies are still getting people to pay money just to sit in the right seat of single pilot airplanes on freight flights.
There are qualified pilots out there. A particular job just has to be appealing enough to recruit and retain those pilots.
The 1500hr rule along with Pt.117 came about to increase safety of the flying public. We are measurably safer as a result. At my company, where corners were cut and processes evaded, we crashed a 767.
Standards get cut at our own peril. Say what people may about quality of training, ultimately what's being proposed is a reduction in standards.