Although I understand the point of the proposition I don't quite agree on the practicality of it. Slaves don't really work to become slaves, they are captured or sold into slavery. I think it makes more sense for a once a year roundup of slaves and auctioning rather than a year-round quest to go get your leash whenever you want it.
Sure there is the problem of slaves benefiting more so than being actual slaves (specially when you add in that you can get purchased by a specific person you want to have your leash, which happens often), but I don't see how this would fix that. Once you get your leash, would it then be yours to give to anyone? Sure the slave then had to work and thus didn't benefit as much but if they aren't then sold to a random person and can pass the leash to whoever they please, why did they need to work in the first place? Wasn't it because the leash could be used too freely for the slaves intent, and if they pass it to who they want, the problem persists right? Only this way getting your leash has become harder (but more freely available).
I don't agree with making the leash harder to obtain as people might be inclined to not participate then. I for one don't do quests much, I know others who are the same. And I know of people who refuse to be sold as a slave and don't participate in the auction because of that. We're all people trying to have fun in this game and adding in the extra work seems sorta cruel when we have a working system as is.
So as far as the few problems I see with leashes, the first one being slaves benefiting too much for becoming slaves, and another being slaves not really having to work for their master (no set jobs/guidelines, which I don't think there should be, it should be up to the master to provide work) which is hardly touched upon here, it really only half fixes the first problem and imposes work upon the slave which seems to null the necessity of having to fix the second problem, which in all rights should be addressed, as to continue to keep the leash a "slave" leash.
This topic (initial post) was about the leashes being given too easily and having no relation to any relation to the RL concept of a "slave".
That being said, regardless of what this topic is about the slave leash and auction does seem to be intended to be in line with what a RL slave is and we should either continue to keep that concept or throw it out entirely for a new one.