You're right, nobody does care at all. However you stated that "a lot of us" are flowing up because they want to work for AA, and from the pilots that I know personally (and would venture to guess this applies to pretty much everyone over there), they just want a guaranteed avenue out of the regionals and on to a career airline. That same flow thru could be to DL, UA, Alaska, FedEx, etc...and most pilots would not care any less since it's low risk and easy. Hence the path of least resistance comment. It is what it is.

And good for them, it leaves other options off the table but the general consensus is that it gets them out of the regional rat race.