When should the leader come onto the stage?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It seems like a ring-fenced post to me.

As a mere oboist, who really does help the orchestra to play in tune (or not ) it can be a bit galling when someone who just happens to play the violin gets such a disproportionate amount of the credit. I suspect it'sone of those instance where "we've always done it this way" become the predominant argument.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I've always understood that the leader comes on last, and is applauded, as representative of the whole orchestra, the applause isn't for them personally ( and it means that the audience doesn't have to applaud the whole time the orchestra is coming on)

Wouldn't it then make sense for the orchestra to stand when the leader arrives and to receive their applause, just before the conductor, soloists etc, come on stage?