Risk it all and commute for the airline with the most growth or give up and work for the airline where you live knowing they may close the base with little chance of upgrade anytime soon. Neither choice is wrong it just depends on how much of a QOL you are willing to give up and various other factors including age, family support and if your SO makes a paycheck. I live in an outstation and choose not to work for an airline that has bases in an outstation because I believe outstation basing will eventually be a thing of the past. There is no magic 8 ball and there are im sure, long term FO's at great airlines who would have, given the chance jumped ship to one of the worse contract airlines for an upgrade years ago. Its the same story repeated here at the regionals and there is no end in sight. I have the opinion that there is no reward without risk and if you are young you should take roll the dice, indecision is not your friend either. Today the ball is in the pilots court, good luck on the decision. Also I know my grammar sucks.