It only works when the rep-changes are permanent, which they should be, if they've gone to the trouble to make faction command members take time out of their day to submit a viable request.
The only way to escape from a permanent rep-change is to remake the character manually, which is quite a long process and one that people may think a bit before doing. If they do do it, they earn their reprieve by putting in the effort, if they don't do it, they take the hostility of the faction permanently and it is reciprocated appropriately.
