I dont know the reasons fully for the 9 days leave booking but at least they have acted on feedback and done something. Many other airlines if they had changed leave and got feedback would of told you where to go Trust Me.
So to be fair at least something has been done, still not to everyone's cuppa tea.
Next year ALOT is happening, as you said Purple the situation with GB may have soemthing to do with the leave as we need to accomodate GB guys, fair one I think.
And of course the new entrants now on fixed term contracts, so the leave system has also got to be fair to them and their contract.