I totally understand what you are saying TopBunk, and I wish things were not like this. But unless there has suddenly been an unexpected increase in sickness etc (which I do not believe), then the reason for the lack of cabin crew is purely the fault of the managers and planners. They know the system they are working with.
Personally, I think they assumed they would be able to push the cabin crew into signing up to the deal before now and so left the recruitment until the last possible moment. Someone counted their chickens before they had hatched, and that was a mistake. They are so desperate for crew now, that I hear they are taking anyone who gets as far as interview (even though they were rejected at this stage initially).
As for sorting out the inefficiencies within BA, I don't think it is ever going to happen, because we will be bankrupt long before.