What makes you think with most lifers that it is their choice to not leave? Make no mistake, it is very hard going on to the next step, being obese, failed check rides, Asburgers, age discrimination, letters of investigation, etc. The mindset that getting on with a LCC or something like Allegiant is an easy thing to do is simply false, might as well try for the big three. You need to work your butt off, figuretively, and litterally for some. You need to record yourself talking to notice all the wierd things you do that you never realized, and learn to act like you actually enjoy other human beings. As much as you want to tell the Spirit chief pilot to Fu** off for not valuing your time, money and effort to go to the job fair just to interview for the chance to do an actual interview, you need to either be a really good actor, change as a human being, or stay where you are currently employed. The part you may not realize is that you may very well be a lifer yourself.