Let's say for the sake of argument that you had chosen one university over another due to the fact that that university had an agreement with a regional airline that after instructing there for two years you would go straight to the regional affiliate without an interview. For this "in" you paid significantly more than you would have to attend a different university, and accepted below average pay for your instructing. Now low and behold it's 2016 and regionals are falling all over themselves to hire any qualified pilot with a pulse and it turns out you have your pick of regionals that want YOU. Plus that one regional with the affiliation has since closed the base you wanted and is now the lowest paid regional in the industry.

So of what value was that "flow"? What kind of return on investment did you get from the extra expense and lost income by taking that agreement?

That level of demand is coming to the major level, and certainly to the LCC's. Flows lose value with every retirement. Calm down, study, do a prep, and you won't need a flow!