I understand how there are some very good reasons why opening the doors to prior service would be extremely difficult to do, and that unfortunately whenever you set a date for a medal, some people will miss out. No one is ever completely happy when medal criteria are set, but its important to understand that it is not a conspiracy, or a desire to insult a group of veterans.
The only solution to this is to offer an NDM (which I sense there is zero support for among the military hierachy for many good reasons), which would be awarded on completion of basic training, so that then everyone has one. Otherwise people will constantly argue over the criteria and some will always fall short.
The route to buying one is open to all, and there is nothing to stop you doing that. I do feel that the petty bitterness, and desperate desire to be seen as a victim of exclusion by some here is sad to observe.