I can certainly understand the wanting to stay local. I live 40 minutes from my YX base that I doubt would go anywhere, but I have 0 intention of staying fully aware I'll have to commute. Yes my family is important to me, but I know the track record here regarding bases. I can also provide a much better future for my family by getting out of here (retirement, profit sharing, pay). We all have our priorities though so I understand.
Who knows what the regional future looks like. If we were to get bought by mainline, one carrier is going to have to buy the other 2 out of ownership and that's not going to happen. Regionals will have to merge in the future if they want to survive, because bringing flying in house at the mainline level I would imagine is a last resort.
The one saving grace of YX is the airplane. We can do most routes they're flying at mainline and we own the planes which gives us some financial security.