I would have to say I am very satisfied too. I am 30 and have only been with the airlines since 2006 as I waited it out in the instructing / corporate a lil longer than Most. I too am on my second regional however have had the very unique postion of never having worked as an FO. I was very lucky to have been hired 2x as a CA but I too chose the road less traveled and waited till I had about 3000 PIC and about 1600 multi to put in an application. I was then offered multiple companies and positions and I again chose the road less traveled. The 1900 because it was offered as a CA and not the regional jet FO.
That first year didn't break the bank. If i remember right it was just a little over 30K (not much for a RSV CA but remember it was a 19 seater) but I have made jumps in pay every year since. With a little more than 4.5 years in I made in the 80's last year.
While you might say too that i am the exception , that might be true but many with the horror stories are also the exception. Don't get me wrong I want to push this career back up as much as any one else but I think when at home and with family and friends you have to be happy about whatever life has given you too. There are some of my friends that have landed some pretty sweet gigs that I think would be awesome but I try to look at the good things I have....like the 19 off/ 91 credit I have this month. How many pharmacists have 19 days off this month...show of hands...I didn't think so.

This career has good spots and bad spots. I think the fact that I have been living in Domicile has made my life EXTREMELY better the last few years. But for those that are having a bad run things will get better.
Sorry to cast all that sunshine on you guys.