I say only have them in bases that are dominated by commuters such as DTW (which is probably the group who wants them most).

So let it be base by base or none at all.

100% agreed.

Some people love them.... most seem to hate them, but those that do really like them. Might as well have a sprinkling in each category variable with user request in the rotation surveys.

day and 2-day trips for me, please.

Another thing I've noticed since we got 5:15 a day is the company building 3 day trips with 4 duty periods and 4 day trips with 5 duty periods. Since it still pays the daily rate it doesn't matter how many periods they pack in there.

What I am starting to see is the 32 hour layovers broken up with an RJ deadhead.

Well we are about to find out. I hope the people who want them bid for them and they don't just end up being assigned to junior pilots and reserves in categories where commuting isn't as prevalent.

The increase in 5 day trips might be in part due to 5:15. I have heard that it has been far more expensive then the costing number used in negotiations. The impact on rotations constructed after bid package release has been huge.
The company however has put out several times that longer trips are being used because of the 79 hour average on the ALV. In the past they always met that average by using low ALV's in the winter. With access to a 2 more hours in the summer (84) and increased narrow body block hours in the winter domestic system the company is having a tough time meeting the 79 requirement. Marketing increasing block hours late in the game is not helping. A increase in 757/767 hours was refused last summer. It's very rare that flight ops denies marketing.
If the company has 3 options. Build rotations with less credit. Violate the ALV average. Violate the staffing formula. They have dropped a lot if hints over the last two years on easing the 79 hour restriction. That has been refused so I suspect they are pushing back with rotation construction.
Keep one last thing in mind. A large number of pilots like 5 day trips. When the company was going to eliminate them at former north bases there was strong support to keep them so they stayed.

Kind of a simple question. Can I put in a green slip for the entire bid period? (then, let the schedulers figure it out, deconflict, etc.)

Can you post a few of those. They must have short duty days. A 3 day trip with 4 duty periods would require 31.5 hours of rest periods. A typical 3 day trip would only have 48 to 55 hours TAFB. The duty periods would have to average under 6 hours.

Yes and many pilots do exactly that. Keep in mind however that a GS is never a proffer and you're required to fly it if the company is able to contact you. The same qualifiers are available with a GS request as a WS.

BUT...you've always got two easy outs:

1. Sorry, I just had a beer...

2. Sorry, my wife just left town and I've got the kids.

Those will only work for a short call out, for a 12+ hr. call out...not so much.