When you are extremely junior it's harder to predict. When you have a little seniority on reserve you can pretty easily manipulate your schedules and set your self up for commutability on both ends 90% of the time. I have commuted on a day off maybe once this year and that was by choice because I proffered for a trip I really wanted that started early on day 1.

Even when you are junior you can usually proffer for the (fleet dependent) 11AM, 2PM or 3PM or 7PM standby shift on day 1, (nobody wants standby typically so its usually easy to get one of them) then you can commute on your work day. After that you start working your way back to morning shifts by the end of your reserve week, trying to get a trip with an early finish on your last day, 0400 RAP, or 6AM standby on the last day. Even when I was a very junior CA on RSV I could still commute in on my day 1 90% of the time and be on a plane home by 5pm, usually I was headed home on the 2:25pm though.

Once you figure out all the tricks of how to manipulate things in your favor to make this all happen it's not that bad. Just takes a little while to figure it all out. Super junior is always going to suck no matter where you work, it gets better though once you get 15-20+ people below you.

I personally prefer reserve here with our system than the current lines. Works out WAY better for me.

(ORD) RAP and STANDBY shifts you can bid for the day before, you will know between 3-5pm central the day prior to start what you are awarded, Standby shifts are 8 hours, except the latest one ends at 2359. RAPs you are on call with a 2 hour callout period.
EMB
RAP 1 =0400
RAP 2 =1000
S1- 0600
S2- 1100
S3- 1500
S4- 1900

CRJ
RAP 1=0400
RAP 2=1000
S1- 0600
S2- 1400
S3- 1500