2.5/6 is an estimate (although now I believe they are saying less then 6, I cold be wrong about that though.) I highly doubt anybody ever told you it was a "done deal" as you put it. Even the most optimistic people in the company are never going to say anything is 100% certain.

We don't seem to be having much trouble getting new-hires and we are scheduled to flow over 300 next year alone, so I would say that unless plans drastically change, then 2.5/6 is doable for someone hired today. If plans do drastically change for the worse, then my bet is that the entire industry is undergoing the same troubles (economy, terrorism, raised mandatory retirement age, etc.) If that were the case then I would much rather be hanging my hat for an extended period of time at envoy vs. contract carriers such as Mesa, TSA, Republic, and the like.