In a hot industrialized war (one that isn't wildly asymmetric), a supply line has so many soldiers' lives depending on it that having the transports manned or n

In a hot industrialized war (one that isn't wildly asymmetric), a supply line has so many soldiers' lives depending on it that having the transports manned or not is insignificant. But I think I know the general concept you are getting at, I'd call it the wartime risk economy: when a large percentage of your combat aircraft sorties don't return, it becomes reasonable to operate the engines much closer to the limits of reliable operation than in peace time. The extra performance can save more pilots than the occasional engine failures caused by the emergency operation mode cost.