Well I am not an authority on the SkyWest relationship as I am a newhire... I can say one of the instructors talked about it and was adamant that it was a good move to be sold as SkyWest had invested $0 into the company.
With respect to training, I came here from 135 cargo flying from AK and I am kinda surprised by the training. It is way slower pace than what I did in 135, and almost too forgiving, but it is well organized. Is it feeling too easy? Kind of. But the instructors are slowly breaking down stuff into digestible chunks. Plus, our study guides shows exactly what we need to study every day to stay ahead. There is no emphasis to get way ahead and stuck in the weeds, but instead to focus on that week's syllabus.
FWIW I can say why I am here, and it is not to get to United. I think signing up for and relying on the AA flow/DGI/CPP is insurance, but not great. If I were to wonder why UA is not "honoring" the CPP, one just has to ask, "Why would they deplete these well trained pilots that make them money in 'their' regional when they can just scoop up other solid pilots from other regionals and adversely hurt their competition?" I know it's a stupid but I am not relying on flow/DGI/CPP to get to the next levels. Note, my top choices are not UA/AA/DL either.
Why I came to XJT is that I came here to learn (that and Compass is going down, so that was a bummer to hear) and because they have a union. I know people are chasing quick upgrade times and looking to get to the 1000 TPIC as fast as possible, but I think XJT has this weird combination right now of SUPER SENIOR captains coupled against dropping upgrade times. I know that if I could be flying with captains I want to fly with those guys and learn what I can from them and use it. Even if I don't stay and DEC somewhere else, I think I have more to learn here than what I can get at other places. This isn't saying anything bad about other airlines, but I genuinely look forward to flying with CAs that have been doing this for 20 years. They're probably good people, as with most of the pilots out there. I do think that as you monitor this forum you're gonna see month-after-month of dropping upgrade times. Maybe this has to do with the goal of hiring 1200 pilots by the end of next year... they already have ~300 in training since late June. The quality of those pilots, can't say... but the training is supposed to be great for the E145. Not that I support him but DSPS has claimed it and I do believe them.
Additionally, I don't think chasing the E175 matters. I heard its a sexy plane to fly, but I am really looking forward to the 145 and any chance I can get to handfly it well I am gonna try. QOL may be better on it as well. That's just what kool-aid I've been drinking however...
However, if I can get two winters in ORD, get about 1800 hours in that time, and feel I am getting close to upgrading (existentially and in reality with possible company growth), I will stick it out here and bid it. If not, I'll look to DEC. Unless the economy drops out.
The city flooded the other day and HR is getting us gift cards because our food went bad in our fridges when the power went out. I think they really want us here, I think the instructors want us here, and most of the people in class I have met want to be here. Now let's see how quick this optimism can last, or this pilot boom. Good luck