Yes, going from one regional to another is a lateral move. Going to a major is not a lateral move.

Lets just use Mesa and American as an example.

...................Mesa..............American
..............F/O.......Capt.......F/O.......Capt
Year 1 -...$22.........$57.......$75.......$137
Year 2 -...$29.........$59.......$75.......$138
Year 4 -...$34.........$63.......$88.......$140

It takes 11 years as a Mesa captain, to make what an American/US Airways E-Jet first year F/O makes. When pilots switch regional airlines, that tells the oppressors as you call them (in which you support as well), that they can continue to shift flying from one cheaper carrier to the next. What happens when another cheaper carrier comes along and takes your flying, and you're back on the street?

Wouldn't a better idea to try and change the way this game it? Make the majors be forced to bring flying back in house, thus created more major jobs, higher pay, higher compensation, better QoL, etc? You also state pay hike, like the dollar amount is the tell tale sign of everything. Total compensation is a whole 'nother ball game.

Good luck with what ever you chose. But remember, you're not upgrading because our costs are to high to grow. We cannot compete with cheaper airlines, because pilots will go to those airlines to support the constant shuffle of flying to the cheapest. If the cheapest weren't able to survive, the flying would be forced to go somewhere - either the major carrier or the more expensive regional.