A few little gems to throw in if I may?
Sgt Pilots are more expensive than Fg Off Pilots and Flt Sgt/MAcr Pilots are more expensive than Flt Lt Pilots. That is if we use the Pay Supplement 4 and the RRP(F) rates which AAC NCO Pilots are on. So there is absolutely no advantage there apart from lowering the number in the Officers’ Mess.
I think the biggest danger in becoming a ‘specialist branch’ is that it could undo the progression up the ranks to CAS - do we really want the Royal Air Force completely run by those that only know how to support Air Power and flying?
The only true way of doing this is a bit like in the commercial sector - where you have a pay ladder, you are placed on the pay ladder according to your skill and profession - and discussing what salary you are on is a dismissible offence. Otherwise, there will be an absolute melee of “I’m better than them, and that’s not fair”. Also, we have to somehow do this tri-Service too. Finally, on RRP(F) then the Treasury will be loathed to move that into main pay as it then becomes pensionable (££,£££,£££,£££s).