When the FAA Chief Counsel says, "Accordingly, two or more pilots may each log PIC time for the same flight time," I'm not sure that the word "manipulation" really applies, and if you have difficulty at an interview it only shows your lack of understanding of the rules - if I didn't understand something, whether FARs or systems in a King Air, I'd avoid the subject also.

Bottom line:

If you already have your ATP it doesn't matter. Your PIC time, from an FAA standpoint is irrelevant. There aren't any FAA currency requirements I know of that require PIC time and you might as well log per what the airlines will want you to tell them on an application (assuming they are consistent with each other; if not you might as well have a dozen logbooks).

OTOH, if you are still a low-timer working on your instrument rating, commercial or ATP, you're only short-changing yourself. If you want to fly and pay for extra hours instead of using the FAA's rules to meet the FAA's requirements that's absolutely your prerogative. But, with all the anti-PFT sentiment around, it's seems to me to be a little ironic to force yourself to pay for those extra hours if you don't have to.