Pandora, you have my fullest sympathy and understanding. I know exactly where you coming from. Like you say, better to air your frustration here, in a place where at least some people might understand that you are not a stupid s*d but a very frustrated prefessional, than in the office.
Easy enough to say for some on this thread how hard it is for rosterers to please everyone; but of course nobody expects them too. What can be expected is a modicum of intelligence applead to a job which is more than just number crunching.
And to say that all rosteres sometimes have to do something which the crewmember in question doesn't like, is also rather obvious.
After 20 years at their merci, I know for a fact exactly which rosterers in our mob will honestly try and help me out when in a bind, and which ones lack the talent and humanuty to even try. And that's not mentioneing the thankfully few really evil ones who seem to take a perverted pleasure in thwarting anything a crewmember might find convenient.
No, the rosterers are not manning a travel agency. But it's amazing how different the sicky-statistics are for the ones known as "good" compared to the well known "rotters".
Small example. When mr40 broke leg in 3 places 6 yers ago I needed immediate leave of absence to look after him and 2 small 40's. So I was honest and put the matter to my rosterer. Couldn't get it, had to resign!! Which I did on the spot, after 14 years with the comp.
Took 3 weeks until some bigwig in the comp heard about it, and I got reinstated!
Pandora, we both know they are not all evil, but many of them are pretty lousy at their job!!