JRF - AMEN BROTHER!
As for hiring high time pilots, I agree that they should go right to the mainline, while a ratio 50/50 are hired from the "regional." Call that a flow-through, I don't care. The fact is that there needs to be a career tie to both, since the "regional" is where the growth is, and we need to check managements whipsaw with a unified pilot group.
PS I have my 3 letters of rec AT DAL, and only need some more flight time to add to my 2500TT and 200PIC before I get the call. When I do, my tune will not change.