I find it interesting that self serving people always assume everyone else is going to be self serving too. It's as if thinking about and looking out for others or improving broken systems never occurs to them.

Until I'm #1 on the list, there's always a chance someone will beat me to the jump seat at the last minute. I would much rather know a week in advance if I will make the jumpseat or if I need to buy a ticket or if I should look at another flight. Stability. Predictability. Situational awareness. The ability to plan ahead. These aren't new or novel concepts. Is anyone really going to say logging onto a website 30 mins-7 days before departure is that difficult? Hell if all you care about is ****ting on the newer hires, then add in a timer function where if a junior pilot bids on a jump seat, a senior pilot has x many hours to trump that. Or give pilots X many jump seat points to bid on a trip per year. Want to blow them all on a really important trip? Go for it. if you don't need the jump seat then don't bid as much. There are better solutions than just showing up to the gate with very little information and hoping for the best.