Max, if that is/was the case for all airlines the anomaly might not exist.
In reference to this:
No need to be "on time" and play ACARS acrobatics.
Airlines never paid bonus to crew for ON TIME operations.
I have been told that at least one airline may pay pilots an on-time performance bonus, and at one time, was giving ramp grew similar incentives.
If the ability to trick the ACARS does not exist for any airline anymore, and the financial on-time incentives no longer exist, then this indeed would be a non-issue.
I only hope to learn if this potential safety hazard has been effectively eliminated from the industry.