Personally, I feel that Coda professional development for starship officers reflects their Academy and Cadet Cruise experiences, and that a character with no advancements would be one ready for his/her first real assignment.
My theory behind this is that the cadet cruise is integral to the training process...that simulators and classroom learning only teach so much, and midshipmen must get hands-on training to complete the cycle of learning before they're ready to move on to the field.
Just my thoughts on the subject.
Davy Jones
"Frightened? My dear, you are looking at a man who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe! I was petrified."
-- The Wizard of Oz