If you're going to tollerate this job/lifestyle, you have to love to fly. Not just "I think thats what I want to do." But seriously LOVE IT.

Going the cargo part 135 (chrater) route is great experience because it's single pilot, IFR, often multi-engine. However, when applying to majors, they may not like it as much because you have no "Crew" experience, say some gained at a regional.

I'm not sure about the "taxed, non-taxed" perdiem, maybe thats a difference between airlines. All perdiem is taxed. You earn perdiem all the time that you are on duty and away from your base.

Again, some companies may differ, lets say that your monthly gauantee is 75hrs. Your first pay check will be a protion of that (ie; 40 hrs x your wage). The second will be the rest of your gaurantee (35 hrs) plus your perdiem and any time flown over your gaurauntee.

Airlines dont pay for your food, thats all you. Sometimes if you dont have to leave to early in the morning you can catch the hotel breakfast (not likely though).