Being on reserve sucks, but commuting to reserve sucks more. Keep in mind scheduling can (and often does) put you on short call up to eight times a month. This means "promptly available" (a term not technically defined, but two hours seems to be a good starting point). A crash pad will be required in your domicile as a commuter - eight nights a month in a hotel will add up quickly.

There is way too much to discuss in this thread about the reserve system at Delta, but the learning curve is steep. Welcome aboard - you'll catch on quickly.