It's not a question of "drying one's eyes", as you so eloquently put it. Or running away to the private sector.
However, unless someone in MOD stands up for the Armed Forces, the little things that make up for the lack of the above rights (and the list was supposed to be a little facietious!) enjoyed by all other workers will continue to be eroded to the point that people really will leave, and those that remain (mortgage trap, pension trap, etc), will have no loyalty to the Services beyond the pay statement at the end of the month.
Oh, and by the way, although we may not pay directly for our pensions, our salaries are reduced accordingly to fund them.