Thing,
I think you missed the point: people ARE walking away. So your proposal is really an observation. The question is what are the hierarchy going to do about it? They only have 3 options, really:
1-Improve pay and conditions to compensate (possibly with FRI)
2-Scale back overseas commitments to a level commensurate with harmony
3-Do nothing and hope that they've retired/been promoted by the time the house of cards collapses
My money's on 3, because it is significantly de-risked by the forthcoming end of Op HERRICK, so I suppose it's 2 as well. Certainly not 1!