The System you describe is by far in a way the best system I have come across in my 30+ years in EMS. It was the second system I was introduced to, and the one that I refer to when lecturing as the best designed system
With a single organization handling the ALS services, and multiple providers handling the transportation services, everyone wins... Fire gets to maintain a larger than would be normally provided by tax dollars, due to the added calls... and they get to look like heroes all of the time. The privates win, because they get to maintain a response territory that is exclusive to them... and don't have to worry about the gigantic conglomerates gobbling everything up, and it keeps more dollars at home circulating in a local economy rather than being sent back to Colorado or Phoenix.... or Norway.the Public wins, because multiple providers can serve a large region by carving it up and parcelling it out... more resources, manpower, and vehicles.
Both the companies and the fire agencies work well together, and the system runs smoothly. Most of the EMT's on the rigs go to the academy and are eventually brought into the fire service.
It truly works well.