Airdale, what leads you to think that it's all about the mainline pilots?

Study some history of how we ended up in this outsourced-flying mess
currently upon us. Since you really loved wholly-owneds, start with the background of PDT. Formed in 1962 in HGR, and became (as Henson Airlines) basically one of the pioneers of the 'Express', 'Commuter', etc. concept. You know why? Because the smaller markets that Henson served couldn't support mainline ALG service! Even under market regulation. Not some vast conspiracy to undercut the mainline pilot groups.

Back then, similar carriers flew BE99's, Navajos, Twin Otters, etc. Do you think that in the late 1960's/early 1970's, the 'mainline' groups such as DL/ALG/UA/Pan Am were foaming at the mouth to get their 'outsourced' Beech 99's/DH6's on property because they 'took mainline jobs away'? I'm not old enough to speak of that time when it has happening, but I'd venture to say 'no' would be the answer to that one. It was OK to have 'commuter' subsidiaries back almost as a B-scale, but as scope was eroded over the years, then we have a crisis as aircraft sizes increase.

The rest is past. C99's became B1900's became SF340s/DH8's, then we had the 50-seat RJ/70/90 seat RJ and the E-Jets. The problem of 'outsourcing' flying could have been reigned in years before today's group of regional pilots were ever conceived. To summarize, don't blame the people who have been flying turboprops on the same routes since you were born.