Sorry todd, I obviously misunderstood your argument. I thought you meant that because paying commisioned officer aircrew would cost more than paying an NCO aircrew, commissioning wouldn't happen.
So just to get this straight:
A/Sgt aircrew on appointment (Cpl Higher Rate) £24.5K
Fg Off on appointment £13.8K
Substantive Sgt £29K
Level 7 Sgt £33K
Level 1 Flt Lt £33.8K
Therefore money is not the deciding factor on commissioning!
In answer to you other question, Ops Support, Fighter Control, Police, ATC to name but a few!!
I happen to agree with commissioned rearcrew, I know quite a few. What other branch in the RAF stops career progression at WO?!?!?!