I agree that for the most part the regionals are stepping stones and everyone has a strategy on the best way to get to their dream job at the majors. However, QOL is very different between the regionals. If you compare how many senior captains at Horizon or SkyWest plan on making a career there and how many senior captains at Mesa want to stay, I think that would speak for itself. Of course, some are willing to sacrifice to get the PIC time and then move on but to say they are all the same is really not true. However, I think no one should judge someone else who wants to get to their dream job and is willing to suffer in the next 3-5 while they get their hours. It is personal preference. I know a pilot at Fed Ex that flew at Great Lakes and probably took the fastest route to the majors. Great Lakes has very low pay and terrible work rules. But for some reason, no one slams on Great Lakes like they do Mesa. They are both crap company to work for but Mesa is much larger and spoken about much more often. Why?