When I worked for a property management company the attorney & court fees were something around $300. Which we requested as part of the judgment. Rarely did we need to call the sheriff, so it was unusual to have that, but it was around $120 when we did. So nowhere near $1000. 

While some tenants were worth working with due to a history of rent payment, when you have someone who is constantly late, generates complaints from the neighbors, bounces checks, etc, you don't work with them when they are handing you a reason to evict them. And if they owe $250 today, in less than 30 days they will owe another month on top of that. Now we're talking serious money while we wait for a court date, which could be a couple of weeks away. Meanwhile you have a mortgage, utilities, & salaries to pay.

There are excellent reasons to start evictions as soon as there is any past due rent. Those who do intend to pay often come up with rent, late fees & court fees between filing and the actual court date.