On your point about the Airbus to E190 paycut, I agree that its crap to accept that pay. This is where we can make efforts at the regional level to improve the industry. If the regional E170 crews are making decent wages, mainline management will have a hard time selling wages to the union that look like regional pay.

I agree that all of our goals are to move up the food chain as quickly as possible. What I see as a problem though is that our "generation" of pilots will probably be staying longer at the regional level than those in the past especially if Age 65 becomes reality. I do not relish the idea of being an E170 FO for 5+ years at the current pay rates. That's where I see the problem. If advancement continues at the current rate, we'll all be doing pretty well in 5-10 years. If say for example, the current growth spurt is not sustainable and we end up on the street or stuck at a regional, we have a vested interest in making sure we fight for pay that is fair for the work we perform. If not for us, then for those who follow us. Besides, you never know when you'll be furloughed from mainline and back at your regional. You should always do your best to leave your last job better than when you started. Those are the resume bullets that get the big bucks down the road. When everyone has 1000 turbine PIC, you need something to distinguish you.

Bottom line, I'd fly a Cessna 152 my whole career if they paid me $200/hr with 18 days off a month. If the pay and QOL is the same, type only matters when it comes to mine is bigger than yours fights.