The fall always looks higher once your toes are on the edge.

The seniority list at your particular company is a necessary evil. It certainly has its negatives but it has positives as well. You have a few too many sick calls or mx write ups and you could find that your upgrade is taking longer than your peers. You will see close friends of management upgrading before you, you will see furloughing out of order etc. It is not perfect but there is a reason it has been around for so many years....for lack of a better alternative.