Yeah that's sort of what I was afraid of. As far as going to a regional, that's not really an option (do you know what they pay those guys over here???) I'll have to figure something else out. Maybe I can marry an aussie or a kiwi and sneak in that way.
PS. As far as how they "should" view my time...I'm not one of those guys who complains about how the HR types "should" see me. As someone said "their game, their rules".