PA38 is right.
The head of the FAA...Randy Babbit, as head of alpa , allowed scope clause provisions which lead to regionals taking over bread and butter routes from mainline flights.
BUT if wages were higher, there would still be those who would commute. Some sort of regulation like: the pilot shall have 12 hours of rest within 30 miles of the reporting airport prior to reporting for duty.
might have to be made.
Rest would have to be defined as either the principal residence or a private room in a hotel.