To build on that, there’s so much more that gets missed foregoing those 18-24 months in the right seat of said airline. Knowing the contract, the FOM, the nuances of the airplane that aren’t always written in the manuals. Knowing your contractual rights when scheduling tries to push you. Having a working knowledge of the FOM to CYA when you have to make a difficult call as the PIC. Having that time as an FO to live and digest that stuff passively as you work towards that 1000 SIC is often overlooked. In today’s hiring market I’d be very cautious making that DEC jump, whether it be for TPIC or financial reasons. A bust isn’t the end of the world but it just leads to unnecessary questions on an interview. As it was said: be brutally honest with yourself, weigh all possible opportunities, and know what you’re getting into.