I'm curious as to what's going to happen when all the 250 hour ATP/RAA/DCA wonders eventually upgrade to the big chair on the left.

To the OP, give Slice and De727ups' opinions a little more weight than some 172 driver. These guys have been around quite a long time, and know what they're talking about.

As for ATP- they're just mediocre in my book. I had a chance to fly with a few of their grads who weren't hired as CFIs (read the fine print VERY carefully), and had to do some aircraft checkouts for them. IMHO- ATP teaches you to pass a check ride, plain and simple. While these guys weren't a danger to the flying public per se, it was very difficult to get them to think out of the box or deal with various outlandish scenarios. But that was just my observation from a few years ago.

Good luck with your flight training!!