If jump seating in the day before a duty, even if technically the required minimum rest is not achieved, is such an offense perhaps we should ban pilots having kids as well, or having a personal life at all. For many people a late jump seat flight is the difference between an acceptable life style and total disaster.
I think we have to balance the positives against the negatives here. A day taken away from me at home would be a far bigger stressor than not receiving text book min rest.
I know why it happens and I know why people do it, but its still an abuse to be airside when you have no ticket and you are not on duty, its the airline(s) that are at fault, apart from anything else you clog the C channel for people who are on duty often with little or no time to get to the aircraft or place of work.
I do accept the "abuse of system" thing but that we're clogging the staff channel is a dumb argument. The only crew security that I've been to that's really been clogged is in UK. And we all know why.., check ID for 2 min, remove shoes, computers, iPads, liquids and soon underwear! The fraction of jumpseaters going through is minimal in comparison to other staff. My only experience with clogged security channels is UK procedures and lack of resources.
From my friends in the US I hear no problems, commuting on any airline, even freighters. How come they get it so right? Oh yeah.. over there we help fellow colleagues not shaft them !!!