The next twenty years is a long time and a lot of commuting. Airline stability aside I say keep it simple...sacrifice the 27 months now and live where you will be the most content. And I whole heartedly agree with your assessment of commuting, CLT, and AA. Ive done the first part, lived in the second part, and endured nearly four decades in the last part with four years to go. Wish I could be more optimistic but I am far from the only old timer AA native that thinks this way FWIW.