The pin in & of itself is no replacement for actual unity, but I think it’s effective as a symbol. Back when I was a half-winger, most captains I flew with verbally thanked me for wearing the pin, so I learned pretty quickly that wearing it was not just a way to avoid taking crap, but to show respect & dedication.
I actually like that it raises eyebrows when someone is walking around without one. It helps keep the importance of union support & unity at the forefront of our minds- even (especially) when times are good. Hopefully, when the doo-doo does hit the fan, we’re just that much further ahead in terms of standing together & holding the line.
+1 for keeping a spare in the bag- we should all feel half-dressed if something happens to our pin.