The safe bet is to take the LCC job under the circumstances since PIC opportunity is an unknown event horizon at your regional.
The riskier (but still within the bounds of a legit decision IMO) is go to another regional, get fast PIC (maybe DEC?) and hope to move on to the Big Six within 2-4 years, something which retirements should facilitate.
Hybrid move is do the LCC, but remain committed to aggressively keeping your apps out even after you upgrade at the LCC. Don't put on the golden handcuffs when you upgrade.
Considerations:
-LCC Upgrade might slow if the economy slows. Retirements at the big three will not slow (maybe for age 67, but only for two years if it comes to that and only if they're in a world of hurt).
- Can you be based where you want to live with the LCC? That alone may not justify a career at an LCC vs. legacy, but it sure takes some of the sting out of it.
- Legacies do like more type ratings, but all transport jet types seem about equal in their eyes, so a bus (or 73) type won't be valued more than another RJ type apparently.
- I am not aware of a "trend" of legacies hiring low-time/non-PIC guys from LCC's. They are definitely hiring junior FO's (even the odd CA) from LCC's, but many of those have previous TPIC or mil experience. Maybe something is going on that I'm not aware of.
- Legacies hiring civilians without TPIC is a crapshoot... it happens but there's no rhyme or reason in most cases and it's not that common. Some of us actually think they do a little of that at random (grab low-timers from regionals) just to keep hopes and morale up in the coal mines. For planning purposes assume you'll need 2K-5K TPIC to get on with Big Six (that number should come down as retirements ramp up, but that's where it appears to sit right about now).
- LCC looks like a pretty good move from where you sit... but if you get lazy or addicted to the money, ten years from now you might be KICKING yourself when you talk to all of your buddies at the legacies. Don't lose sight of that, this career is a long game, and chess players do better than checker players... especially lucky chess players.