No doubts annual reviews are by-products of CYA legal policies. Lawyers, courts and admins love a paper trail. One day when some lucky work-at-will soul is

- fired for poor performance

- hasn't had any sort of performance review - ever -

- who's lucky to find a contingency lawyer willing to go through the motions of a nuisance lawsuit

- to one day - a couple years later - settle out of court for a fraction of what they originally sued for

- to get 10% of the settlement (90% to the lawyer who fronted the costs)

annual reviews may come roaring back.