Bear in mind that loss of ST is not just a negative for those who lose it, it's a bonus for those who don't. It shifts people from a position ahead of you in the queue for those last few standby seats, to behind you - even if they get it back with no seniority.
If the numbers who have lost ST are in the low thousands or even the high hundreds, it *will* make a difference to the travel chances of other employees (or retirees
)