Now there are certainly worse jobs than NJA, but let's be honest here shall we? Allow me to address these one by one:
1) Your opening statement is not only an insult to major airline pilots, but also a pot calling a kettle black. We have our number of brainless pilots and gummers too, just like anywhere else. Ask any senior FO about babysitting. "Bus driver"? Hey man, we all fly planes. So whether you are driving a bus full of kids or driving someone's rich kids...all you are doing is driving kids to school.
2) yeah, we're never awake at 3 am at NJA . And your drive to DCA is no different than my 0300 wakeups for an airline to Dallas, followed by 2 or 3 legs of flying. Get real.
3) I had a life for 15 days a month too when I was at the airlines, don't know what you are talking about here.
4) We all flinch when the brief updates come (usually more flying after the "last leg") just like you did on reserve.
So we all get it, you had a bad time at the airlines. Many, or more accurately, MOST of us had a good time. I don't see any boomerangs coming back to NJA from active (not retired) major airline jobs. None. NJA certainly aint the worst job in the world and things seem to be getting better, but if you really think major airline jobs are hell, you are indeed wearing some blinders.