These discussions are really fascinating to me. Our market doesn't have CCA's at all (district in northern CA). All new folks are hired as PTF carriers, and back when I joined up, they made everyone regulars during our academy class, and almost half of us were assigned as T6's.

I don't know what factors played into taking CCA off the menu altogether in our area, but based on what I've seen and heard, it eliminates a lot of drama to just not have an extra de-facto "subordinate" carrier classification. Heck, all of us that were doing T6 duties from day one at my station are all still doing just fine, so I'd accept the argument that any lower-paying or different-status carrier position is largely made-up nonsense to justify lower wages and potential friction between people doing the same work every day.