I used to commute and probably had one of the easiest commutes ever, but it still sucked. I had 4 flights a day (1:25 flight time) all on my own metal with basically no competition from my own airline for the jumpseat. I was senior enough to bid commutable trips and only had to spend 2-3 nights in domicile over the course of 2 years. I would usually just give myself one leg up arriving 1-2 hours before my report and I never missed a trip. Once my commute flight was scheduled in 1 minute before my report time.

Even as easy as a commute as I had I still would avoid it like the plague, at least for a regional. There was still always that uncertainty of if/when you'd get home (sometimes I'd make the last flight but it could be delayed a few hours for wx or mx). Sometimes on weekends with a reduced schedule I'd finish a trip and have to wait 4-6 hours for my flight home just bumming around the airport. Later trip starts were nice but after having to get up at 6 to catch an 8 am flight to make a 12 pm report followed by 5 legs getting to the hotel at midnight still was no fun.

I have been very fortunate to never have had to commute to reserve. That always sounded like pure torture.