Pretty simple really... I'm not more "deserving" than anyone else. We all "deserve" equal based on equal loyalty, and given we aren't all equally loyal (some chose/choose to work elsewhere first then join present company) that gives us the variable (seniority). More significantly I believe if you don't more or less adhere to LIFO then as a career becoming a pilot becomes worthless. What happens when the next slightest downturn happens? CR, manipulated to get rid of those who are most expensive. This makes our profession relatively unique: we cannot move to other companies on similar salaries nor in similar positions.
As for digging my own hole.. If that's holding a modest house on an estate with a cheap car and some rather large training loans to repay then yes, I've dug my own hole. Tut tut.