I started in the airline industry at the regionals myself. I don't blame the regionals for any of this. I blame the mainline guys that sold themselves short on giving up scope to gain a few extra dollars. Back in the 90s, if the Delta pilots had insisted through negotiations on the 50 seat jet being flown at Delta, maybe things would be different today. If management wanted the airplane because the consumers wanted them, then there is a rate at which they could operate them and turn a profit. Mainline pilots should have demanded it! We started outsourcing our jobs then, and now the planes have gotten larger. See the senority based system breeds this kind of mentality. "It breeds the I got mine and it can't affect me mentality"! The more senior you become the more you think I can't be touched attitude!
Even if it means a loss of a few dollars, guys we've got to fight for scope. There is nothing wrong with Delta, United, American, US Airways, and Continental flying the E-170/190, CRJ-700/900 or even the CRJ200 and EMB-145. There is nothing wrong with those aircraft being the junior aircraft. But at least the outscourcing would stop!