Nonetheless, this company is sketchy. Clearly their recruiting tactics rely upon lies about compensation expectations. Treating employees like an expendable commodity is a nonstarter for me - sure they're treating pilots well now because of the labor market, but when push comes to shove I have no doubt they will go back to their cheap labor roots and attitudes. After all, that's what they originally planned on doing.

Best of luck to everyone involved here, you're gonna need it.