Because they will only have to displace 2 or 3 pilots. There's almost zero cost to that. Yet keeping them makes them pay a lot of other jobs a significant premium. All they need are 3 pilots coming off mil leave, sick leave, 747 displacement or CVG displacement (if it happens) and they'll absolutely do it, unless it continues to remain that junior. I don't think it will, and its not even going to be close.

No one wanted to be the plug in a brand new category the first few months after it opened. That happens from time to time. Its still a VERY senior airplane though, and its highly likely it not only won't go that junior again, but that the 2 or 3 2014ish pilots in it now will be displaced.