Ron,
LE can climb to level 35. Transfer to PES(A) is not automatic, MCM hand them out after a board. Very few were handed out around the time of pension decision (another big trick missed on the retention boat, as some might have changed their pension and stayed).
There is no real advantage to being on PES(A) unless you can move up the scales past level 22 (LE), or have changed your pension to 05. Very few would have gambled on the pension decision anticipating that they might get PES(A).
2 very positive retention measures would be:
Allow AAC NCO Pilots to climb above level 22
Allow pension swap from 75 to 05 on award of PES(A).
Watch them pigs fly.