I do not think this is wishful thinking.

I have an idea to purchase ExpressJet and restructure it into a 100% pro-rate carrier. I have drafted a proposed CRJ/ERJ payscale that would allow the carrier to pull pilots from other regionals:

CRJ/ERJ FO:
Yr 1: $50
Yr 2: $55
Yr 3: $60
Yr 4: $65
Yr 5+: $70

CRJ/ERJ CA:
Yr 1: $79
Yr 2: $82
Yr 3: $85
Yr 4: $88
Yr 5: $91
Yr 6: $94
Yr 7: $97
Yr 8: $100
Yr 9: $103
Yr 10: $106
Yr 11: $109
Yr 12: $112
Yr 13: $115
Yr 14: $118
Yr 15: $121
Yr 16: $124
Yr 17: $127
Yr 18: $130

At this price point, EV would not be able to win CPA flying, but it would be able to profitably fly its own routes with a major code attached.