Bass, I don't get it. The point of the parable, I thought, is that we should not be jealous of the mercy of God shown to others. Yeah it sucks to follow God all of your life while your brother boozes and womanizes. But if your brother comes to find God, even if on his death bed (end of the day in the parable) we should rejoice for his being saved, not grumble because we had to work all day. So yes, there are folks whose lives are changed at the last moment, but that doesn't mean that salvation is a "one moment" event for all. In fact most of us have to spend some time working in the fields.
To the human being that sucks. It isn't fair. I am not saying that it cosmically sucks, spiritually sucks. I am saying that it humanly sucks. Like the parable. If I work ten hours and you work 15 minutes and we get the same pay, it sucks. Humanly, I am better off goofing off all day and then rolling in when it's time for paychecks.
This is not to be confused with my actual feelings on the matter, it is an observation from a purely human "logic."
SD