For what it’s worth Telfer, when you first raised the CR return issue, in my mind I agreed with you. When you are CRd you leave the company. So when you return it’s at the bottom in what ever capacity the company chooses. I haven’t read anything that changes my mind. So yes, if an A380 SO was CRd, they could face a significant salary drop.....In theory. I do agree with you.
However, for many reasons covered previously by many, this situation is highly improbable....seniority, cost of CR, other VR options to name a few. There are more likely outcomes to chew over than that.