Not all of us paid for our type. (just to be clear)
Not all of us are young enough to pursue a legacy job (again).
The lost decade was a drag on airline careers. To your point though, If I were in my late 20s or early 30s and looking at the retirements coming at the legacies, that's probably where I would direct my job search energies. you are right.
Given that I am not though, I think it's worth saying that there is nothing dishonorable about being a first officer. Still a pilot, paid a decent salary to do something that we all love to do and get plenty of time off.
No pilot wants to retire an FO. But as we all know, fate is the hunter. If that is what happens then i'll be happy to have been gainfully employed flying airplanes for a long time. Won't be able to afford 2 boats, 3 airplanes, and a 50 acre ranch with separate houses for my four wives and a shed to house all of my belt buckles... guess I'll have to settle for a small house in a nice neighborhood and hopefully a good school for my kid.
Hopefully one day I'll get to visit all of those far away romantic international destinations, but I'm happy to do it on vacation with my family. In the meantime, Amarillo isn't so bad. At least it's close to home.