Ironbutt57,
Care to give some evidence, name your source, that members of the AOA are accepting either command/FO upgrades.
If you want to know the AOA's position on this matter, suggest you try contacting them on
http://bbs.hkalpa.org
Whilst I appreciate that you are not a "union-type", be aware that the AOA is a member union of IFALPA (through the HKALPA) and the members of the AOA are bound by any IFALPA directive. However, it's only a union directive and if you don't believe in unions it's all meaningless.
Be also aware that for most CX pilots, failure to get the guys their job back, will mean the end of the AOA as a union and of course the end of collective bargaining/seniority. For those of us in CX, our future shall be at the whim, or gift, of the company. The stakes are now high.
411A.. CX do take Direct Entry FO's. Response was so good in the your neck of the woods, CX tried Malaysia...Apparently, they even found one guy who passed the interview process!