Not all crewman are payed the same either. I have 2200 total flight time in 4 HELO platforms and receive HDIP at the E-6 rate irrespective of the fact that I have been flying for 16 years. Flight HM's are not entitled to CFIP based on our detailer. In the CFIP instruction it states that to be entitled to CFIP orders need to be cut from PERS 404. HM's, though assigned to Sea going billets are detailed through PERS 407. A look whole that costs me about an extra $250 a month.
While I agree that flight time should count for something, the rate of flight pay is based on experience and accountability at a specific job. You may have been the shit as an AW with millions of hours, but as a nugget NFO or Pilot you are not a known commodity enough to warrant the pay for differential experience.
Rules suck, but they are the rules. Sorry for the hit in the wallet Sir.