CM,
Glancing at your posts I sense (I might be wrong) that you are not too aware of the differences in training needs of different types on WSOp. Without diverting too much from your original theme can I suggest that you are a little wide of the mark if you think "MPA type" WSOp training can be "quickly" ramped up to what it was 10-20 years ago. It actually takes a hell of a long time and great deal of flying and ground based training to turn a WSOp (R) or WSOp (S) from ab initio to Combat Ready. We are talking years, not months...and still more years until they are "lead" operator status.
Of course the promise of technology can "de-skill" any aircrew role (including navigator/WSO) opening the door to lower ranks in different seats. But you have to be careful here. If technology means a JT can operate acoustics, it also means a Sgt can operate the backseat of a two seat FJ. That's a road we have not gone down (yet!) and I for one would hate to see it happen - aircrew of all categories are selected and trained on many abilities, not all which can be subsumed by technological advance.
My point is simply this...any growing hole in rearcrew numbers, whatever the rank and specialisation, will be a big, and expensive, challenge to overcome. There will be no easy solutions, so mind out when mover and shakers start looking for cheap ones.