I am at 9e so I am biased. However I really don’t care if people come below me because I am sitting on a CJO. So with that said think what you want about the following. Since you live in DTW I would say go 9e. Looking at current upgrade times does not mean future upgrades will be the same. Off course bases can change too but they change less often than a quick upgrade. You also have to look around at all the captains that do not have their doors being knocked down my Majors to hire them. So just because you can check TPIC box it doesn’t mean a job follows that.

Granted you would have a flow, I do not know much about their flow. I had a flow once and then we were sold and they said no more flow. But it is the same way they could say no more interview for you with Delta. My guess is if you are in DTW and plan to stay DTW you will eventually want to go to Delta. Take a look at the stats for what % of new hires from regionals have been from 9e. Next year we also have an increase of people moving there.

My opinion is that you know you will get a 20k bonus and you know you will get home based. With piedmont you know you have a flow but you do not know when you will upgrade.
Good luck wherever you decide to go.