I think the point that Michael is trying to make is that if these companies who didn't pay their abstractors went out of business, the work would still be there.  It would just be coming from more reputable companies who DO pay their abstractors. 

That has always been my point about companies that ask for a discount.  If they get it, they are just taking work away from my clients who did not ask me to reduce my prices.  When abstractors choose to enable these companies they are really shooting themselves in the foot.

Best,
Robert A. Franco