I think you are correct about the influence in Phase II, I also think the kids see fighter guys defiantly deploying for 6 months at a time and might be getting told the heavy bro's just out and back the crappy locations. When I was a Phase III dude, we used to hang out in the T-6 flights that were about to track and just talk to them, don't know if it helped or not. The students these days are much better informed than we probably ever were (I graduated in Sep 2001, yes, that month), I just wanted to fly fast and drink with my friends, didn't see that as an option with the heavy side of the house. Now days, they can read this web site or immediately text their friends and CAF and MAF units to find out whats up, and whats up is the CAF dudes are complaining loudly, not sure about the MAF.
My point about flying hours is the new heavy pups getting hours that are not PIC don't necessarily help them get airline jobs, I'm sure it doesn't hurt though. You did clarify upgrades and PIC time, in heavies, to me. The fighter guys have gotten a .3 or .2 per sortie addition to their hours on airlineapps, that can push a dude over the hump early I would think.