Carl;
I will try to respond to the rest of your "retorts" later, but I am out the door right now.


On the lawyers. Lawyers do what their clients tell them, even in house attorneys. It is very easy to say, Have a small firm known for .....," there is a problem with that logic. First, there are no small firms that are good enough, and two it will not be cheaper, by a long shot.
ALPA has an outside law firm on top of the in house counsel as well. You just do not like who they use.

FtB;
I wanted to have more of a say, and I made it my point to get my reps to listen to me, and thus far I am happy with the level of engagement. Actually very happy.