I'm not saying lowering the mins it is a good idea, I think it is very likely if there is a pilot shortage. Everyone wants to think salaries will go up if there is a shortage. My point is that it won't, the airlines will find a way to get pilots cheap.

Not all majors require 1000 PIC. I don't think Delta does/did. I am also pretty sure Continental doesn't either.

ATP is a nice requirement but I don't think it improves safety. The Colgan crash had 2 ATP pilots or at least the FO met the requirements to have one. She was even hired close to ATP mins and had twice the hours the average pilot had when hired at Colgan during that time period.