BrethrAAn,

First of all, I don't fly RJ's, and never have. Secondly, my airline's payscale is higher than yours so don't lecture me on selling myself short.
I know RJ Captains making in excess of 100k and I know AA FO's making less than 100k and they both have the same years of service. I know one particular comrade of yours who told me recently if his old regional carrier would give him his original seniority back he would bolt in a heartbeat.
Like the majors, there are good regional carriers and bad ones. RJ pay is rising and legacy pay is falling as Darwinism does its thing. Don't get stuck looking down on them because you just may find yourself looking up at them.