You got that right. I have been trying to figure out "what else?" for some time now. But, I have that dreaded disease you've heard about from those captains: airlines are in my blood after 16+ years in the business.

It does get better with seniority, there's absolutely no doubt about that. I'm about halfway up the DFE list and able to hold 2-day back to backs. I even did a part time line and have been off (w/o pay mind you, which was a mistake, but I needed the break) since 12/12 and am not dreading getting back to work. With 2-day trips, 5th year pay and the occasional Auto Trip Trade for schedule enhancement the job is fair. I also have pretty much resigned myself to no longer trying to move "up" the ladder, so PIC time isn't very important to me. Also, I'm here because I've chosen to be; I could be "better (?)" places but have chosen family and QOL over my career. We aren't moving from DFW and I'm not commuting for this business, so Eagle's about as good as it gets for me right now airline-wise. All that combines to make it barely tolerable.

The real problem is that the model is broken. Regionals were set up (from a pilot's standpoint) as a 2-3 year stepping stone to the cushy majors. Now the movement is at a standstill; the seniority climb to reasonable QOL and ultimately a reasonable QOL in the left seat is too slow, the pay is very sorry for years and years, and the brass ring of the majors is quite tarnished and uncertain. So, IMO, you are smart to consider getting out, especially if you've already realized that it sucks - it takes most of us years to figure that out! But if you can develop something on the side and hang in there for a while it will get better again once folks start hitting 65 in 4 years.

Anyway, good luck to you!