WingsNthings
I can't speak much about your core question of quality vs quantity as it applies to a job interview with the airlines. You will get some good advice from experienced airline guys on here so I will leave it to them. I went the charter/corporate route. And if that was your goal, I would say go for this iffy opportunity with the local 135 gig... because that is exactly how you work your way into that type of flying.
However, that is not your career goal. You want to be an airline pilot. And you also said you would like to instruct. So it seems to me that Plan A is the answer here. Judging by the tone of your post, it seems you would agree. It seems you have been more or less distracted with this sudden and unplanned opportunity. And like I said, if staying local and doing this sort of work was your goal, you'd have to seriously consider it.
The pressure they are putting on you puts a bad taste in my mouth as well. If you want to instruct and be good at it, then there is no sense in rushing through the certification with a local CFI who, as you said, probably is inexperienced at properly training a pilot to be a good instructor. Why does this charter op need to rush you through this before Christmas? I don't like it either.
I would trust your instinct on this. I went to ATP's myself. I was quite satisfied with the training and they even offered me a job upon graduation. Lots of students in and out and lots of time building. It just seems to me that you were on the right track and probably do need to get out of your small town in order to move onto serious time-building. The SIC stuff without the autopilot I would think is valid time in any interview, but you're right about the King Air... what can you do with that except earn a lousy 50 bucks?
I think your intuition tells you Plan A and you appear to have the proper motivation to make it happen. And you also indicate that you would find instructing to be very rewarding and that's important. You can go into the interview with a sincer enthusiasm and I believe they will pick up on that.
Good luck with everything!