Quote: “......the only down side I see is if management or someone doesn't like you they might not allocate you the deserving points.....”
This happens in other occupations. Nothing is perfect. People just find jobs elsewhere. Those in other occupations manage to overcome this occasional problem. Why should it be such a problem in aviation? Are most “airline” pilots so dumb that they cannot solve such a problem as easily as those who choose to go into other occupations? Poor little dears!
Pilots are not the only employees of air operators and their suppliers and sub-contractors. Are there “seniority” lists for technicians, engineers, baggage handlers, loaders, fuelers, ticket sellers, marketing staff, caterers, dispatchers, cleaners, management, etc? How do you think such people manage to get pay raises, promotions, vacations, health benefits, pensions, etc? Wake up pilots! As a group you are not coming across as professional, intelligent or capable of surviving let alone doing well in a competitive free market environment.
In a free market employment environment with no “seniority” lists employees who are not reasonably happy where they are just look for another job. They move to another employer, usually at an equal or even higher level. Airline pilot is about the only occupation that has killed mobility of labour. Throwing off the shackles of serfdom and slavery was won over the centuries at great cost. How ungrateful of “airline” pilots to ignore this and spurn such freedom!