i respectfully disagree. I as a new hire you agreed to do the FO's job until you could hold Captain. ie, you agreed to work your way up and pay your dues. You saw the contract, and how it paid, how it awarded vacation, etc. I don't recall agreeing to do the same job for less pay and less vacation as you worded it. I know for me I agreed to wait my turn until my seniority number was called. I had it explained to me in this way:

The career is back-loaded. It is not front loaded. If you want the rewards you gotta wait for them.

I think they call it delayed or deferred gratification.

Now, what is a pyramid scheme is PBS. That erodes seniority. As long as it exists it is a company monetary give. Pilots complain how they notice vacation doesn't pay like it used to, etc. That's a component of PBS. PBS robs from the senior and gives to the junior. Much like this TA does.