Pilot pay is not the only variable that makes it attractive for mainline to farm out the RJ flying. They're also saving by not paying for mainline FA's, mechanics, schedulers, dispatchers, hotels, etc. Pilot pay is just the most visible element that management likes to wave around in public. John Q Public reads about regional pilots making $60 per hour and does some mental math. $60x40hrs/week x 5 weeks = $12,000 a month. Obviously we know that's total crap, but that's the image that airline managers publicly portray.