While I can understand someone bypassing upgrade to avoid reserve, you are way off the mark if you think there is a substantial difference in qol between an fo at the top of the fo seniority list in round 1 and a captain at the bottom of the captain seniority list in round 1; both have access to the SAP and that is all you need. This is partly why the SAP and qol control at PSA are largely unparalleled - it is almost irrelevant if you are last or first on the list so long as you can SAP. The only advantage the fo would have is in getting a better original line and some easier seniority based swaps.