Nash...
If you run the numbers, I think you will find that your total career earnings are higher with the one pay scale than the differential pay. Sure, it's nice to make bigger bucks flying the -400 and maddog, but I would rather have the choice of flying whatever I want to fly and still get widebody pay.
You're right, between 98-06 we were stuck with a lower pay rate while the legacies kicked out butt! But the change from the contract previous was large: it's unrealistic to expect to basically double your pay from contract to contract. You can wish it, but it won't make it come true. You look at the seniority of the -400 drivers for the legacies flying intl, and you'll see what I mean about only the top few making the top wage. We're much better off financially with the one pay scale as long as it's a wb pay scale.
JMO
Pilot7576