National and WGA are unique animals, and not for the faint of heart. Where a company like National fits in is if you are an older and more experienced pilot who can get a direct entry captain position. Maybe you live overseas and want to take advantage of the global home basing. Commuting just sucks all the way around, no longer having to worry about it is a huge increase in QOL. Getting to live in a place you really love, regardless of where on the planet it may be, and being able to start/stop your rotation from there, all while collecting miles/points, is a game changer when compared with trying to jumpseat and relying on a crashpad. Maybe your retirement has taken a few hits due to past companies going bust, or divorce, or something else, and you need to make good money as quickly as possible. The money at National is very real, and at least until the end of the year, the company is paying 300% for working an off day. The other positive is the flying is wide and varied and constantly changing and you will see a lot of places in the world that most people only dream of. However if you are used to 3-6 sectors per day doing something like Chicago-Tulsa-Houston-Tampa-Cleveland, doing 2-3 sectors over 30 hours between New York-Liege-Muscat-Dubai, or having a layover in Luanda, Angola, is going to be a big shock to the system
But this is hard work, and not glamorous at all. In my time doing this, the guys who are fatgued all of the time are the ones who place their biggest importance on going out and getting a drink with everyone as soon as you land somewhere, and there are a lot of those in this line of work. The ones who seem to do better are the slam-clickers whose first priority upon arrival is getting some sleep. So if you are a person who likes to be sociable with the crew, even after 20-30 hours of being together with them, then you may find yourself constantly worn out. Make no mistake, this is a VERY hard lifestyle, and not for the faint of heart.
One last thing, the characterization that all guys at National are here just because they cannot go anywhere else is an unfair and inaccurate generalization. For example there are a ton of Aussies and Kiwis at National who came during the pandemic, having lost jobs at places like Emirates and Cathay Pacific. Went to National as it was one of the few options out there, and are now finding themselves making more money than they have ever made (like I said, the money is real - you just work very hard to get it). There are some guys who have married foreign spouses and moved overseas and are now taking advantage of the opportunity to make the big money that is only available in the States right now, while not having to worry about commuting. There are still some guys who landed a job back in the 2000s when National was still Murray Air and none of the majors were hiring, and they have just been comfortable and not interested in moving on. There are some guys who were let go from Kalitta for refusing to get vaccinated. And yes, there are some folks here with shady backgrounds who will be career FOs because of one issue or another. For some people, the idea of slogging a 737 around the States for 3-6 sectors per day is just not appealing, even if it means getting to wear the fancy uniform and marching through a busy airport and hoping some hot chick is admiring you.