Very true.. actually "Republic" started the downward spiral when they purchased the assets of MidAtlantic from USAirways and told all the mainline crews they will get "preferential treatment" in the interview process.

All those nice NxxxMD planes were once flown by a mainline captain and mainline copilot staffed with two USAirways mainline flight attendants. The only thing "Express" about this plane was the paint on the side and the folks working below wing.