Does joint custody have to mean 50/50 parenting time?

No. And also, the “every other weekend” scheme is a bit tired out as well. Within those two extremes is a spectrum of many scenarios. One client is often out of town, so his parenting time is two weekends a month flexibly scheduled. One sees his kids for one overnight one week and three overnights the next week and every Tuesday night for dinner but no overnight. One does a “three days with one parent, four days with the other parent” and then switches it each week. Depending on your schedules and your kids’ ages and needs, you can fashion whatever works for you.