Originally Posted by rickair7777

You pay a price for flow.

Is it worth paying the price (lower regional pay and slower upgrades) to have a backup in case you never get hired OTS? Maybe, but it's kind of like insurance, it feels like a waste if you never need it.

If you know you really need the flow (no degree, criminal record, training problems, etc) then flow is priceless and affords an opportunity you would simply not have otherwise.