Compete yes, but i think there in lies the issue. The players ae transferring out because they do not want to compete they want it to be handed to them. There is a reason they are not starting, hopefully at this level politics do not come into play, therefore someone is better than them, so rather than working they just want to tuck tail and run. Agree, dabo and saban are not based on sonority but based on results, they are the only two active coaches who have multiple championships, money they have earned. I used earned and rebut your High School argument with DJU and Rattler. Both received substantial NIL payment, which I am fine with, but so far their High School abilities have not transferred to the college level.
Again, I would not pay an 18-22 year old higher salaries to run my business with no track record of success and knowing first hand, as a parent, how immature even the most mature are at that age. Yes non athletes do not have to sit out a year if they transfer academically and neither do the student athletes who transfer. The transfer does not stop them from working towards their degree just from playing their sport, and that is only upon a second transfer.
I am still a big proponent of earning something, and even in academics how many straight A students in high school fail out of college? High school sports or academics do not come close to preparing one for the next step, it is simply the shown ability to do something at a high level, to then earn an opportunity in college, then if they are able to continue to perform at a high level both non athletes, and athletes then they get an opportunity at the next level, the NFL or the workforce.
Im sure in your first job you were not paid the same as even mid level people, but through work and success you were able to get there.