PBS is a fine system when you know what to ask for. I have many people ask me how to bid and I show them how and they come back to me and say, "I got a great line next month, thanks." You just have to know how to work the system in your favor. You need to see what people senior to you bid. You don't have access to their specific bid, but you can tell if they bid for weekends off, day trips vs. 4 day trips. All this can be done via the award. I have to agree, that the middle of the road bidder has a harder time bidding than the senior and most junior. Senior people get what they want and Junior just hope for the best. Middle of the road guys can screw themselves if not careful.