If you have 1000 or more bodies below you and are living in ATL, NYC or possibly DTW, you're pretty much safe from ever being forced to commute so its easy to get on a high horse and make such assumptions. Any other base at any other seniority and you're surfing the whims of the fidgity 4th floor like everyone else.

There are plenty of DL pilots forced into other bases sometimes 3 or 4 times in 2 or 3 years. Other pilots could stay in a base but only if they took a downgrade and a massive pay cut so they commute until one day we stop shrinking to profitability and they can ride the wave back again. Many other pilots commute to stay with a plane during periods of frequent almost ADHD-ish staffing shifts like we've been in so they don't bounce through the school house every AE. Many have spoused committed to certain jobs, run other businesses, have guard duty where they live or special needs children or parents they are providing care for who have a compelling reason to stay where they are. Don't tell me they're all expected to pick up and move every time.

Not to mention that by commuting we drastically subsidize the company's skittish on the fly planing by going through training signifciantly less, not to mention taking far fewer very costly paid moves. Commuting, even factoring in the tiny effect of our commuter policy, is a net gift to the company. Big time.