While I would love to have $1000 as my pay-floor, it is becoming less and less realistic. I am a consistently working DP in Los Angeles and have had some decent success in my career, but if I only worked gigs that paid $1k or more, I wouldn't work near as many days as I would like. Budgets are shrinking. That is the reality.
I'd also like to add that chasing a paycheck has never been my priority. Chase the job. The money will follow.

I wonder how long it will be before Sony mounts start being offered as a standard option. It's a hungry market these days- especially for full frame. I'm surprised Sigma didn't jump on it.