Based on us taking 23 aircraft next year, based on the projected amount of pilots leaving or retiring, based on everyone in recurrent saying they're being told 500-600 pilots hired next year (and over the next 4-5 years) tells me they've significantly under staffed on this annual system bid.

I mean it makes sense from the company's perspective. It gives them more flexibility to adjust to changes. Combine that with their inability to plan for anything tells me that it's easier to under staff on this bid and add as they see fit with supplemental bids as opposed to max staff then have that result in too many pilot upgrades/hiring.