You can add ASA on your list of airlines NOT TO GO TO WORK FOR!
I am a 10 year Captain there and have been through 3 base closures and 4 moves in 3 years. All of the experiences of the original post is a day in the life at ASA. Especially in Atlanta (which is where we are all forced to work)

I can't stand the Skywest pilots who say "the threat of a union is better than a union" because I think it is morally wrong (someone is paying for your threat and it's not you!) but with that said, If I were a young buck (or buckette) I would go to Chitaqua, Skywest, XJT, or one of the better airlines that some have mentioned.
Here's one other thing that no one mentioned. You don't know how long you will be at the carrier you choose. I know a bunch of guys hired about the same time I was who thought the regionals would be easy in, easy out. Then 9/11 happened and we all waited for 6 years before the "good jobs" all started hiring again.

It's true seniority is everything, but waiting a month or two to go to a better regional is good advice.