If you really think that a Skywest pilot takes home the same as a Mesa pilot, you need to study up on a thing called "work rules" and how they can effect a pilot's pay.
Never said that, its pretty obvious thats not true. But like someone else said, when your management can change those rules on a whim, you better be careful...I mean they just stopped interviews. Its could only be a matter of time till management comes to you and says "we've had to take away X because it's too expensive" and then what?? And when those "bonuses" stop coming or are reduced because you're the level of flying has been reduced, guess what, you're making about the same as MESA!
Also, its the point that skypest really isn't raising the bar when your hourly wage is the same as a bottom feeder. You might make more soft money, but when you accept such low wages, how is the next guy suppose to fight for better pay when their management can say "well, skywest just accepted this pay scale, and its the same as mesa's." It makes it REALLY tough.