Desk pilot, Totaly agree with you. Although the vast majority of the public think they fly themselves these days, and pilots just sit and read the paper!
As for scheduling agreements, they do not form part of your contract! They are a schedule of the contract! A sneaky way that allows it to be changed without consultation in a non unionised airline. In a unionised airline a change needs to be negotiated with the recognised union. So your scheduling agreement is only safe if you have a determined union and everyone is prepared to back them!!