I have to ask...why would a "competent pilot" with "8000+ hours, numerous type ratings, and years of 121 experience" be willing to work for an uncompetitive wage in one of the most expensive areas in the US?

Right or wrong, I think the presence of a "competence gap" at VA is the perception of many pilots, who can't understand why folks would work for those wages. My family will never fly on VA, either.