I am sure that the details you post regarding the 330 guys being disadvantaged is true, however your text concerning the road to command staying upgrades by 30months is well wide of the mark.
Yes the RtC course is 30months long but it is not mandatory to do it all before upgrade if you have less then 30months to go. I myself have started the upgrade process and been to one forum and done no other part of the RtCcourse.
Doesn't mean that time to upgrade is shortening though!