Since you already know the nature of the MAG beast, I'll skip that sermon...

I guess it comes down to 3 things in my mind...

Family...do you have one? QOL at almost any other company is far better than mesa.

Upward mobility...TPIC is an obvious requirement, but there are tens of thousands of RJ drivers out there. What makes you more competetive...can you really get out with 1001 PIC? Last I heard SWA poolies will be needing life preservers and UPS wants international widebody time (ie major airline, ACMI, or military lifter). Only you can answer this question based on your background, connections, and desired major.

What if the industry stagnates? Where would you rather be stuck? Although you'd have better odds staying employed in the middle of MAGs list as opposed to the bottom of compass'.

As far as MAG ALPA....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Been there, done that, don't hold your breath. I think JO's strategy is to hold his line and pray for an industry catastrophe which will turn the tables on pilot demand. Your only hope is for the BOD to fire JO and bring in a turnaround team which realizes that you need pilots in order to operate an airline. Again, don't hold your breath.

I did 2 years at mesa, and the jump to another regional probably cost me maybe a one year delay in upgrade....but at far higher pay and 15 days off in the meantime. To me it was well worth it, I get a lot more play time and my wife doesn't hate me anymore