Yep.. Screw QOL and go to Lakes if you can.. You will never find a place with better people and a flying job that is more fun.. I agree that you will have QOL when you get to NW, and Lakes is the fastest way.. I gave up a few years of QOL to go to lakes and now my QOL is much, much better than many of my friends who went to "good" regionals.. Plus, if any of those guys who went to "good" regionals come to work where I do now.. There gonna be my gear biatches.. haha