First we have to understand why it has become what it has become.

Everyone knows it was better when the sponsor didn't have to sneek in to see his buddy the ACP when the meet and greet window was supposedly closed or "already filled up"

So why did it all start going horribly wrong?

IMHO, when hiring temporarily dips or stops altogether the ACPs and the ACPs buddies wanted a way to keep getting the Blue Angels and the Great Santini in ahead of everyone else. It also is a way to keep the undesirables out, whatever the definition of the month on that is. (Not counting the growing crowd of those that actually end up on the seniority list)

How to fix it? It simply is not a system designed to deal with a huge number of qualified and serious applicants. I bet the incoming CP has an idea and his idea will become the law. That is the only way to get all the parties comfortable with the current system in line.