Alot of the airline is what you make of it and how you are able to work the system there. I've been at Pinnacle for just over 3 years and upgraded after only 13 months... could have upgraded after 8 months but didn't have the 3000 hours total time required.
Things have changed and the NWA system is just as screwed up as ever, but I don't regret one second the decision to come to Pinnacle.
Reserve time is a bit longer, but our outlook is considerably better than TSA's. Our scope protection specifically prevents such a thing from happen and it is a strike item in negotiations now.