Well, I sure hope my MEC is considering more than just this type of argument. I certainly wouldn't have minded an equity payout, and a nice bump in the first year pay - and to work for the largest airline in the world (for now). But, No one is ever going to know what the SLI problem was....
...all this delay does is make the process more difficult, take longer, and foster more animosity. The deal is done either way.