the FAA perceives that long haul involves higher potential fatigue issues than short haul sector flights where the number of take-offs and landings are much higher in a tour of duty. The obvious stressor that contributes to fatigue is life on the domestic front!!
Your point is well taken and easily understood. The domestic sectors flight limitations is an easy fix: Limit flight duty time to 8 hours and maximum of 3 sectors.
But the domestic sectors are largely free from the debilitating assaults on the circadian rythms effected by long haul and ultra long haul east-west sectors.
Why don't you check it out yourself and ride merely as a "passenger" LAX-HKG. Go ahead, cross 8 time zones and the Int'l Date Line in darkness. Upon arrival at dawn, after an all night 14+ hours flight, tell us what day it is; tell us where you are and where you've been; tell us in what zombie state that you find yourself in, and tell us your state of usefulness for the next few days.
