PVR
There seems to be an assumption here that the RAF considers PVRing to be a bad thing - it may be news but it doesn't. In fact a degree of PVR applications is accepted - even when the size of the Service is not reducing. Reducing PVR rates too low can have a detrimental effect - remember 1 man's PVR could equal 1 or more men's promotions (1 WO PVRing leads to 4 individuals being promoted earlier than they would have done had the WO stayed in until he was 55 (5 for tech trades/2 for NCA)). Therefore, reducing PVR rates too low effects promotion rates which, in turn, could lead people to PVRing!
So PVR is accepted as a fact of life as long as it is of manageable proportions - it is not something that is special (especially when living in a society that - apparently - no longer wishes to spend their lives in one career).