Here is a question: After somebody accidentally picks up a DP, isn't the process pretty much circumvented even if they later drop it?

I mean, the company can always still say that somebody picked up the trip voluntarily, even if that pilot didn't eventually fly the trip.

Does it only matter if the trip is actually flown by a reserve?

It seems to me that once the cat is out of the bag, you have already undermined the process and you might as well fly it and take your medicine.

What do you think?

For the record, I have never flown a DP, never requested one, and have absolutely no intention of ever flying one.

I am simply wondering if the damage is done once somebody makes the mistake of requesting the trip.

FJ