So true, and this is absolutely one of the worst parts of our "system".
The best CCs out there would find a way to sit down their new Lts and explain to them how the system works from the onset, but at the same time, have them leave the room with the expectation that they are to focus on being an expert in the plane and let everything else (upgrades, jobs, PME) play out as it will for the time being.
Additionally, from what I have seen, "late bloomers" don't even know that is a thing until it is too late to affect any change. The difference now, though, is that those late bloomers have more options on the outside and are way less incentivized to stay and chase the carrot.
If this is the case, and to truly focus on job performance, any SR worth his/her salt would mandate inclusion of 942/Form 8s in the supporting documents (along with SURFs/past reports) as OPRs come up for stratification/reviewer signature.