CRJ PLT QUESTIONS THE SAFETY OF BEING QUALIFIED AFTER COMPLETING LESS THAN THE NORMALLY PRESCRIBED IOE HRS.

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I RECENTLY GOT SIGNED OFF FOR CRJ IOE WITH APPROX 17 HRS. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT 25 WAS THE NORMAL NUMBER OF HRS FOR IOE. MY INSTRUCTOR TOLD ME THAT WE COULD IN FACT BE SIGNED OFF WITH LESS THAN 25 HRS DUE TO AN EXEMPTION. BOTH HE AND I DISCUSSED THIS AND AGREED THAT IT MADE MORE SENSE TO GET THE FULL 25 HRS FOR VARIOUS REASONS. THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON I WANTED THE FULL 25 HRS IS THE FACT THAT I AM FLYING WITH CAPTS THAT ALSO HAVE BARE MINIMUM EXPERIENCE IN THE ACFT. MANY OF THEM ARE COMING FROM TURBOPROP ACFT AND FROM DIFFERENT BASES TO THE BUSIEST ARPT IN THE WORLD. THERE IS ALSO AN EXEMPTION FOR REDUCED EXPERIENCE. THE MOST TROUBLING PART OF THIS IS THAT THE CAPT WAS NOT GOING TO SIGN ME OFF WITH 17 HRS BECAUSE HE AGREED THAT I WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE ADDITIONAL 8 HRS. HE WAS CONTACTED BY MGMNT AND IN ESSENCE; FORCED TO SIGN ME OFF -- OR 'RELEASE' ME. EVEN THOUGH I WAS 'NOT PREPARED' ON 17 HRS; SOMEONE TOLD HIM HE COULD 'RELEASE' ME. I BELIEVE THAT I CAN OPERATE THE ACFT SAFELY IN 90% OF THE SITS I WILL BE IN; AND HOPEFULLY WITH MOST CAPTS I'M PAIRED WITH; BUT WITH THE WEALTH OF INFO ON THE FMS; I DON'T SEE HOW 8 MORE HRS COULD HURT. FLYING WITH ANOTHER INSTRUCTOR WITH DIFFERENT INSIGHTS ON THE ACFT OP WOULD ALSO BE BENEFICIAL. IF THE COMPANY TRULY BELIEVES IN THE CREDO OF SAFETY FIRST; WHY WAS MY INSTRUCTOR FORCED TO SIGN ME OFF? MAYBE AN ACCIDENT COULD BE AVOIDED WITH LESS SHORTCUTS IN EXCHANGE FOR SHORT TERM MONETARY SAVINGS.