It's funny looking back at your own career. At times it was clear. As a junior nav, I had absolutely no influence over anything, including the direction in which my aircraft was moving! Later in my career I had command over what I thought was a lot but in reality, was not much. I had control, at times, over an empire yet limited command. Geography was a wonderful leveller! And ........... I had the occasional delusional moment!
The Air Force is a complex structure and promotion is based on a traditional model. We all know what it takes to stride, majestically, up the slippery slope. Some are good; some are clever and some just won't play the game.
Whichever way this new system pans out, it'll be a lot different to the model I knew as a Fg Off!