Ask HN: Associate Product Manager: Entry-Level or Low-Balling Experienced PMs?

I was an educator for ten years before transitioning into a Solutions Architect role at a tech consultancy. This position had allowed to me to interview/analyze/build workflow and process solutions for a wide variety of tech industry clients - and product management has grabbed my attention as a future good fit.

Reviewing APM postings, it appears the positions may be 1) actual entry level PM positions intended to develop skills/increase scope, 2) PM positions intended for internal transfers, and 3) faux-associate positions expecting PM levels of experience/skills/tech depth (and, hence, created to potential low-ball former PMs).

Is targeting APM positions as an on-ramp into PM work worth the squeeze?

Are these not true entry-level positions?

Is the PM scene so competitive that PMs would slash their comp to apply (and be accepted into) APM positions?