I think it boils down to what you want personally, combined with your options in terms of background, age, debt, and family. For a guy with no engineering degree, airlines is very attractive. For many with the degree it is something of an attraction for sure, many make the change to airlines, but I have clearly seen from personal friends as well as years of reading at APC that many tend to drop out (if they aren't laid off) when they find out what is really involved with regionals. I would say that almost all go back to engineering at least for a while when they get furloughed, even if they go back to airlines later because engineering bores them. The competition for jobs is a better deal in engineering than in airlines, because more people can make it through the training to get there. But engineering can be deathly boring as well, and for some the boredom is untenable. I have felt that way but I always dealt with it constructively and as it stands I am in a flight test department doing some rather interesting stuff, going home every night, and still making major airline pay. I fly mostly for fun on weekends, which is enough for me. It would be nice to fly heavy jets but you can't have everything.