I don't disagree, I rely on the practice of optimizing the waitlist rather than looking at PZ at booking (choosing days/gateways/times carefully). If that is not an option and your requirements are more fixed it really improves your sanity if you can just look for the flight that meets your needs the best and assume that's it, i.e. pick good times, days and gateways, pay if necessary for exit rows or whatever and be done with it because a 7-8 hour flight in Y may not be ideal but it usually lasts only 7-8 hours.

If it helps you should keep a record in a spreadsheet of the excess cash you would have paid in the forlorn hope of PP (or whatever program instrument) working and once it gets to a decent level just spend that incremental cash on a straight J fare on a flight you need and want to take - call it your own mileageplus/medallion/aadvantage program.