Dallas Dde - First off, I said that was my personal preference and I do, indeed, fully recognise the many problems that would be encountered if one tried to change the game midpoint. It simply couldn't be done in an AA/TW scenario.
However, if AA already had a meritocracy based seniority system, then there would be no problem.
As we all know, there are superb pilots; great pilots; good pilots; fair pilots and useless pilots in every organisation. There are also many FOs that want to remain in the right hand seat and never go for command; and there are many that have no command ability; regardless of how much they might want it.
My point was simply that I don't think it's fair that a mediocre timeserver should be more senior than a top-class talented go-ahead type just because of date of hire.
The problem with this system is, as I stated on my original post, making it fair and equitable for all - and ensuring that the various 'cliques' don't hold sway.