And this is why you will fail.

Upgrades should be based on applying and being selected, like in pretty much every other normal business. No seniority outside of equipment and position. Captain from airline A should be able to apply for captain of airline B. If you get hired into position X at an airline, that's your position until you apply and go somewhere else or apply for a higher position. Some may not get hired due to cost-to-benefit, but some would and be a better benefit to the company. This would force wages to a competitive "free market" scale, like most other professions. The "entitlement generation" started with seniority as far as pilots go IMO.