If they just said they were hiring, they would get the same lookover as everyone else who's hiring. If you're going to take the time to do something different,

If they just said they were hiring, they would get the same lookover as everyone else who's hiring. If you're going to take the time to do something different, why not highlight that and use it to draw people in - there wouldn't be nearly this much discussion if they had just said "Hey, we're hiring and we can't pay you except in room and board."