The ease of applying for an online application makes anyone will try new things that are getting a job that suits his dreams, I also often submit applications and sometimes I also follow the next stage such as interviews and so on, sometimes looking for the best is our hope.
It's hard to apply nowadays if you're just on your own, you haven't built connections and networks and this is a problem for those loners. But still, talent and skill beat that.
The situation that everyone got in had put pressure and uncertainty that this world, we don't know what may happen next and if the worst is yet to come. The same for employment we'd really never know if the company where you're staying it might be bankrupt soon or have a %+ YTD.
It is a risk but it can be worth to take, there are different opinions regarding an online application though taking the risk may change your life since there are many successful stories that you will hear about it.
Same with your opinions regarding to no assurance. Even the company you are into for a
long time can guarantee that they will stay at positive, especially now that the economy is
still in its surviving stage. A case to case and with different outcomes.