Ken S
If you consider your first paragraph, there is no point in medals, why would they introduce any? I disagree with your second para because, anyone who does not wish to have their medal can ignore it.
Also, the process of medal qualification has long been officially upheld as a fair process that attempts to reflect merit. Where ommisions or errors in qualification criteria are recognised, ammendments have been made to the criteria. I suggest that the present 2014 in-service onwards cut-off date is a serious error. Any other reason would imply that the long service of officers who left before that date did not deserve the award!
OAP