While I agree with you to an extent SAAB, I must say that small improvments could go a long way.
First, I feel that reduced-rest overnights should be a contingancy rather than a plan. If an airline needs to reduce a crew's rest to operate on-schedule due to delays, so be it, but it shouldn't be planned upon and built into schedules.
Second, we should never be compelled to extend duty to 16 hours. I believe NWA's contract allows duty to be extended to 16 hrs at the pilot's descression but it is not required. If this were FAR, airlines could keep on schedule in weather without risking fatigue. If all I have done is a couple of legs and got a good La-z-boy nap in, I'll fly into the 15th or 16th hour to get to the overnight. However if I have been sitting unblocked at the gate waiting for De-icing at ORD for 6 hours and they want me to pull a turn past 14hrs, forget it. It would be nice to have the option to fatigue past 14 without loosing money.
Just a few thoughts