Not exactly. You can be a commercial pilot with far less. (used to be 250 if I recall). You have to have 1500 (or thats the number it used to be) for ATP.
Not exactly. If you graduate from an approved aviation program, which she did, you can fly right seat with less than 1500 hours.
Who are you disagreeing with? The article or me? I simply stated what the commercial license and ATP requirements are.