Uplink,
As you say we never get leave where we want it; so it shouldn't be a problem anyway!
Seriously though, and I didn't vote for the system, if reserve happens every 11 months then you have a less than 10% chance of it interfering with your peak leave slot. As you only get that slot every 3 years or so the odds are even less. Maybe we've found a strength of the system: If you get the leave you want so rarely you have less chance of being disappointed
Ghost