The new 1500 hour rule may drive up pay but you'd never know it by the looks of the latest "take it or leave it" contract being shoved down the throats of some of our colleagues these days. Only time will tell.

Unless you think your marriage can survive the low pay and time away from home that you will have to endure as a regional new hire, I'd say wait. Chances are you'd be miserable under today's conditions. Then again, if you can manage a few years you timing might be pretty good.