It is amazing how perspectives have changed recently. As a new hire years ago, I was just happy getting on as an FO somewhere that had a reasonable expectation of stability and minimal furlough risk by having a few people behind me.

Now, you are arguing that someone should avoid coming to PSA as a captain, with tangible plans of having ~600 pilots behind him. These captains cannot get "bumped" by upgrading FO's unless unlikely furloughs or reductions take place (unless by "bumped" you are referencing change in relative seniority); how is this any more risky than being at the bottom of any list? Is an applicant better off going to a stagnant regional as an FO?