> Doubly so because employers compelling enough to make employees passionate about their jobs often exploit this and have extremely substandard working conditions

Another way to say this is the Law of Supply and Demand. It's no surprise at all that there are a greater number of people interested in a fun job, which reduces the pay offered. Conversely, dirty unpleasant jobs have fewer people interested, so the pay is greater.

It's hard to see here who is exploiting who.

Providing substandard working conditions narrows it down significantly. Corner cutting below certain threshold just because you can?