Dear Wiggo said:
Either your definition of exploited is a new one, or you don't know what the word means.
Ok.
I was a teenager, turned professional in my sport and my parents were my sole support.
I was approached by a manufacturer to represent them (by contract) racing their motorcycles, lending input testing prototype and pre-production motorcycles and representing them in a positive manner at publicity events. In exchange I was given a set number of motorcycles to use throughout the year, I was given a dealer code so to be able to order parts from the manufacturer within a given budget, had a pre-set budget for approved expenses (mostly travel), given an agreed per diem for testing and consultation and had result based opportunities at "contingency" money at selected events - all published, all of this by contract. It was entirely my choice to sign the contract and I did.
Now, I was delivered everything I was ever owed by agreement. There was never a time I was promised anything by contract that was not fulfilled (so that's different than not being paid/contract violated).
There were a handful of us across the country under the same contract. Our job was to get the best results possible and we all CLEARLY knew we would not advance in our career unless we were able to go faster than the "factory" salaried riders on a consistent basis.
I had a similar arrangement with the manufacturer for nearly ten years. I was never able to go faster than the salaried riders CONSISTENTLY.
I knew what I was getting into. I followed my dream. I had ups and downs. I didn't get it done. I moved on.
There was no exploitation whatsoever and I'm aware of the word's meaning.