QOL, not Pay (not saying it wasn't important), was the most important concern for AS pilots polled, and understandably so, and yes, the contract was that bad.
The new contract addressed that in a substantial way, so 82 percent made the strategic decision, given the pay-rate SNAP UP provisions, to lock in those non-monetory gains NOW, rather than remain subjugated to the dog schlit conditions of the old one for even a monent longer.
I doubt there's any regrets or hand wringing going on within the group of YES voters. This was a QOL contract. Plain and simple.