So, circumstances have led to this point where my first choice of regionals don't want me or won't call me. (I'm answering in advance the inevitable "why Colgan/etc? why not "so and so"? questions.)

Because one company is not hugely "better" than the other, it's proving to be a tough choice. Both have similar pay, fly turboprops, similar upgrade times, require 1 year contact, even the same class date and I would have to get a crashpad in both cases.

Employees of either company have any positive/negative input?