I posted this in the "Envy (LMAO, btw) Skywest" thread but I think it applies here:
The fact that it is even within the realm of possibility is the problem.
There may come a day when we're all flying around in 100-120 seat airplanes for about what we're making now and codesharing with the legacies/majors or whoever. That would get around scope and I would say it's only a matter of time before the majors figure that out. British Airways is already doing it with their OpenSkies subsidiary flying 757s across the pond.
Now, I understand that is an extreme and would take a while to get there but regionals flying bigger and bigger airplanes (CRJ-900s/E-175s/E190s) is a slippery slope and the slide has already begun.
Basically, I think you are going to see a continued blurring of the line between major and regional which started with the majors turned their noses up at the RJs in the early 90s. Capacity control is the buzz word in the industry now - putting just the right number of seats in the right market at the right time. That new ARJ-100 (or whatever its called that they're building in China) is a 100-120 seat "RJ", as is the CRJ-1000, or at least thats how they are marketing those aircraft. I don't think its outside the realm of possibilities that one day you could see airplanes of that size up to 737/Airbii flown by "regional" airlines who would then codeshare with the Big Boys in the domestic market to feed the international markets. It would be a cheap and convenient way around the few scope clauses that still exist. And there will always be pilots willing to fly a bigger airplane for less than they should.
PS
There is more than one way to make a good living flying people for money. Anyone that thinks bigger airplane = better pay should check out some of the pay scales at the fractionals.
PPS
Hows the college search going?