You're missing the point. The return on investment is done after year two. You've paid for yourself and made them money. After that, it is cheaper to pay a new hire to do your job. They don't really care if your 250 hours, or 1700 hours. Their concern is that you pass training, and hopefully will leave in a few years. That being the case, they are better off with people who have 1,000 plus hours when hired, since those are the ones that will be marketable to other places in a few years.... they also have already demonstrated the ability to pass a 121 training program. They are a much better risk.