No upvote, because I don't think your point 1. is valid, V -- even assuming the premise you quoted is true.

And I do assume the premise is OFTEN true: as someone once sang, 'the times, they are a'changin'.

<div class="curmudgeonry">Today, getting young blood to come in for a poverty wage (or, "half the pay" if you prefer) seems to be a very standard business practice in IT related jobs (and elsewhere, see below) -- even in the U.S., and likely in other places so long as local law doesn't mitigate against the practice.

Sorry: I feel a rant coming on.

<span class="rant_w_rambling_anecdotal_evidence"> When I was young and first became a reporter, I got diddly for pay, but lots of bylines and airtime. I started getting well paid in my second job (the last one that I went looking for, as opposed to 'came looking for me'), and a couple years later was making more than the Deity deserves to earn. By the time I got out (the writing was on the wall)... my annual salary put my income in the top 10% or so of all U.S. incomes at the time.

Today, except for a few network stars and major market anchors, and a very select few syndicated (print) reporters, editors and columnists, earning even a middle-income salary is just a dream for most young reporters.

By the time they've accumulated even a few years of experience (and the thrill of being able to point at the tube, the radio or the paper and say 'Hey Mom, that's me/my story!") many are disillusioned with what (most of) our media have become: entertainment media rather than 'news' media -- i.e., media offering frivolous amusements rather than substance that bears on the reader's/viewer's freedom, local and national affairs (traffic accidents and fires aside, in the case of TV), economic interests or the education of that content-customer's kids). And they're tired of working for very close to minimum wage, even in midsized markets such as Fresno, Peoria, Baton Rouge or Manchester. The higher paying jobs in PR, advertising or even completely un-related fields become very attractive, leaving management to replace them with even less expensive folk.

Of course, the best of those who leave the news biz ... or IT ... impoverish their field, and worse, leave their kids and grandkids to inherit a (perhaps) dysfunctional future.

OK, stop. Full stop! </rant>
</curmudgeonry>

OTOH, your point two is well-taken; not necessarily with respect to the OP, but certainly in cases where the premise you quoted is actually true.