I too would love to see EVERY mainline doing ALL of its flying, but alas, pilots much senior and "wiser" than I chose to allow mainlines to farm of some of the flying.

And the vast majority of the regionals who took up the slack, chose to abandon those dirty, smelly, loud, un-sexy turbo props in favor of jets. They also were able to encroach on some of the mainline runs with the little jets.

And many pilots who have come to 121 in the last few years chose to fly for regionals who operated 50 pax jets. A few even chose to work for a regional who chose to fly a jet from IAH to CLL (some 70 nm).

But a few regionals chose NOT to buy jets. They chose to stick to jumpimg puddles.

And some pilots, believing there will always be a market for those dirty, smelly, loud, un-sexy, but more profitable (or less UNprofitable if you prefer) turbo props chose to work for the turbo prop operators. They didn't do it to thumb their noses at anyone else or to undercut the industry at a "bottom feeder." Those pilots chose to work for a company that appeared to have a better business model: little turbo props on short hops.

I am one of "those" pilots.

So bash on! Tell me how my choosing to go 135 ten years ago because I refused to take a pay cut from flight instructing to fly at a regional ruined the industry. Tell me how my 200 mile flights in a turbo prop undercut the 50 pax market. Please, tell me how "I" am the root of all evil.