Worked fine before subcontractors came along. Without the regional served ROUTES you may be right, but it doesn't have to be a regional feeder to fly them.

With regional pay rising, the cost differential between an RJ operator flying a route and mainline flying it. Add in more efficient aircraft that are too heavy for scope and the costs narrow even further. A few pounds in this case is a big deal, and it could be very good for the industry overall.