So your saying operational experience and general piloting experience are not leverage? If not why not have one pay rate for CA and FO? Or even better just payrates based off of years with the company? Why should CA or FO matter neither seat makes the company money other than operating the flight? If you really want to get down to it as far as productivity goes the FO does more work (starting engines running checklist) per leg than the CA (taxi the ac and call for things) does. Entry level pilot can taxi an air craft with minimal instruction, as far as decision making goes anyone with a private pliot license and above has proven to the FAA or a representative that they are able to make make sound ADM. Then add on Commercial and then an ATP cert it's just more justification and qualifications showing sound skill and ADM... The only difference between CA and FO is when the person was hired at said airline.