Agree with skip the regionals if you can.
An ANG or Reserve gig will be the best place to be for currency and references for the Majors. Go Guard and skip the regionals.
I retired in '03 and the majors had thousands on furlough. Flying in the regionals kept me current until a great job came open. I got 2200 hours in under 3 years. It was tough low pay work but was a tremendous learning experience. It was a great transition to a great job. That said, now that the majors are hiring I would think of the regionals as a Plan B. If you do not get an interview at a major then do the regional thing until you get an interview. It will be hard but temporary. Excel there and you will be set up well for your interview at the majors.
Do not think of the regionals as being easier. It is harder because generally the training is minimal as many are run on a shoestring. They are set up to get your time and move on.
Within the next 6 months the floodgates will open.