The ultimate problem with a regional career is that you are a subcontractor...you can be fired for cause (or none), underbid, and/or relocated with a few weeks notice at ANY time. One or more of these things WILL happen to you in the regional world. For me personally committing my family to a regional career would be irresponsible...getting established and settled in a certain lifestyle only to be uprooted (and possibly unemployed) at age 50 is no bueno. You can always hope to get lucky at a regional, and some people do, but that would be plan D for me.

Management loves this... the continous competetive dynamic at the regional level keeps costs (and salaries) ultra-low, and even serves to put wage pressures on mainline from below. You have more control of your destiny at mainline.