Just to make you feel better about your decision, I can tell you that STL is extremely commutable from the Chicago area (especially if you're willing to consider using MDW in addition to ORD). There are multiple daily departures on UAX (TSA and that other airline), and AA runs a few -80s up there every day. If you can make it to MDW, SouthWest has been wide open almost all the time, in my experience.

It is an easy commute as POPA mentioned. I know a couple guys from my class that are sitting reserve and commuting with no problem. Yesterday deadheading home from ORD I was talking to a UA 777 captain who has done the commute for nearly 25 years. He keeps a car at ORD but has only done the drive twice in the last year for the sake of making a flight.

You have lots of options.

Awesome, that definitely makes me feel better about it.

Hey madman, I hope you didn't include that avatar in your emails to the company.

Why, you don't think flaming corpses would sit well with management?