It SEEMS like that because ya'll playa hatin'. Always when a chunk of new hires come around there's a posting complaining about that. My guess is that they want to be staff.
I only recruit who I know and who I trust because I want to make sure they are trustworthy and amazing. I don't JUST required people who are my friends. I have some good friends on the game that I can never hire because I know they aren't mature enough or something else... If they are worth talking to and I get to know them, I can see them as a good GP if I just help them along the way. Also, I pretty much train them 2 months ahead of time (in terms of attitude, RC, etc) before they get recruited so they know exactly how to act when the time comes. Anyone I get hired is always pretty damn amazing. Arichi and Prince Charming are great additions.