Can’t speak for intra-Texas commuters much. I have heard of UA guys driving to IAH more often than flying. The drive isn’t a big deal if you’re only doing it 3 times a month.
I commute DTW and JFK and I strongly recommend being in a situation where AUS is an easy drive. I live in between the two where I’m about a 30-40 minute drive to either. Consider New Braunfels, San Marcos or Wimberley. Three years of commuting so far and I’ve only once missed a flight home - thanks in part to having two options.
A few DL guys live in Boerne and end up driving an hour and a half to AUS to take a 3.5 hour flight to JFK. Not really an ideal commute if you ask me.
That being said I enjoy where I live and it’s easily worth putting up with the commute.