HKA played the same name games in their heyday.They steadfastly refused to introduce commuting rosters, so all the expats started to leave once they had the hours and a better offer. Few qualified pilots wanted to join on such roster terms. So they were ultimately forced to recognise they had no choice, and they introduced a limited availability 'lifestyle roster'. They refused to call it a commuting roster - I believe so they could avoid having to subsidise or provide tickets (as is industry standard in COMMUTING rosters). Probably same reason why CX is using that term.
They did of course reduce the pay on the Lifestyle Roster, and they also reduced the already sub standard Annual Leave. But - they did not pro-rata reduce the flying hours! They just worked the commuters harder and got the same productivity as the full timers (for less money. Double win for them).
Believe it or not many of the commuters still jumped at it, because flight pay was an element of salary, and those guys still wanted to fly their b**ls off 'to make up their hours' and compensate for the pay deduction. It resulted in the worst of both worlds for those who didn't want to kill themselves with work. Great deal for the company though....you had to wonder why they resisted the idea so long.
It was all about control really, that's all.
But that's all history now, because the pricks have more pilots than they need, and are begging them to take Leave and NPL etc.
How the tables have turned....