Exactly - I have a friend who is chasing an upgrade at Mesa. He will be forced to commute (lives ORD, based IAH) and deal with Mesa's contract. Reason? He wants to upgrade and get PIC time. Tried to explain that majors are not like regionals where before once you got your 100 hours multi engine (or now RATP mins), you got 10 emails offering to set up interviews. Just because you get those 1000 hours TPIC time does not mean suddenly you can interview at AA/Delta/United when basically every regional captain who isnt a lifer has been stuck in that seat for a while and has well over 1000 hours TPIC time.

Mind you, 2nd or 3rd year captain pay at Mesa is better than any FO pay scale at any regional. I wouldnt do it on a forced commute though.