So when is your leader actually going to have you guys drink the Kool-Aid so you can all go "home" to the mothership...

Don't blind yourself to all reality when picking a company.
My top 5
1. CapeAir
2. Big Sky
3. GreatLakes
4. RegionsAir... uh?
5. Corporate Express... what?

These are really my picks in no particular order...
1. Horizon
2. Skywest
3. AWAC
4. Expressjet
5. Republic

but... those could all be in the gutter tomorrow... All of them.