Superstall,
I entirely take your point about protecting T & C's, I've been there myself, however I must take issue with the idea that no mainline pilots would take commands at this new outfit if they were offered. The precedent is of course the scenario at GSS, which aslo offered inferior T & C's than mainline but quite a few pilots went over so as to gain the LHS. Great for them but not so good for the poor saps who joined from outside and subsequently found that there was no chance for them. I know because quite a few have since joined my outfit.
The same thing also happened at what used to be BACON I understand.
If BA mainline pilots get the chance to obtain command at PL or whatever it is eventually called then good on you, I'd do the same, the argument is not and should not be between pilots, it is however incumbent upon the managers to ensure that this is completely cleared up in a watertight fashion before any offers are made to DEP's.