From my past experience at a WO here’s what I know. The regionals were hiring anyone. These guys were sometimes extremely unpleasant people but the interviews had become a joke. These guys may be great pilots, but even after the flow and their talent, still suck to fly with. Everyone that I know of that was hired outside of the flow did it through their respective recruiting departments.l or unions. They showed interest in their company and helping it, not just collecting a paycheck. And so AA picked them up. Why? Because people like this are great for the company. These people will try to make it a better place and show customers why they should fly for American. The ones in the flow American HAS to take. But this is why other airlines want to see you trying to be there and show involvement and that you genuinely want that airline. Those are the kind who will for the most part promote that brand at any opportunity, and not just show up to collect that paycheck and go home. Not to say all flows don’t care about the company, but the majority don’t and it shows through their lack of effort to do anything other than just flow. In my opinion the flow must go argument has nothing to do with skill or experience, we all have that. But it has more to do with the people you let in and how they will help or what image of the company they will project. I was entirely against the flows before they started and still am. Not just for the lazy guys being rewarded and the end of their regional tenure, but because those who seriously don’t care were given a premier job as well.