Bounty - in the old days before beancounters, bonus hunters, micro managers took charge F/O's were promoted and sent to outstations to serve their command penance, normally for 1 to 2 years. For example at Airtours A320 upgrades went to a new BFS base and B757 upgrades to GLA. In the end it went full cycle and F.O's locally recruited got Commands and filled the base.
The problem with FR and ESY as you say is that you have to depart to far flung places and then if your lucky start moving closer and closer when the opportunity arises. It's not easy for sure but spare a thought for the average joe public who you see commuting on the motorway at 0500 in the morning or on the train to london at 0600 in the morning. Unfortunately it's the world we live in, a lot of these folk have no choice - you perhaps do