Until you guys get that 'regional' airlines are just the airlines way to meet market demand and get around labor agreements that were made when airlines made money, you're just going to keep spinning your wheels. Unless EVERYBODY that operates an air carrier in the United States decides that they are going to raise their operating costs collectively (WHICH IS ILLEGAL), the market will continue to try to provide the service for the lowest price able. That means operating the airplane that can do the job for the least cost. If labor costs are so different in the 'regional' world, then that could overcome the inefficiency of not flying the best airframe for the route.
We all want to get paid as much money as we can, but nobody is exempt from market forces except the government. And we know how efficient they are at providing services. I guess Amtrak drivers (engineers?) are probably happy that they get paid whatever they get paid even though their company is insoluble and horribly managed. I guess we could turn our airlines into another Amtrak and then maybe all the pilots would be happy. Well, that's if they can convince the government to set pilot wages at the levels you want them to.