The future of any company is an unknown but the Virgin/Delta tie up is certainly looked upon as a positive move and both companies are already reaping the rewards!
Wrt Monarch and command, if you're on the long haul fleet with a long haul life style and you're offered command then you have to go back to short haul and kiss goodbye to the a330. I don't see a long haul future for monarch anyway tbh. Once you do get your command at spotty M it's then 4-7 days on to DLM, BOD, TFS etc etc for the next 30 plus years (if it's not sold off or merged before that with the associated job uncertanty).... No thanks! Air Tanker would be relatively easy work, possibly a quick command and used as a stepping stone to elsewhere.
Lots and lots of different scenarios but people make their own educated choices out of what suits them. As people get older it's not just a command thing or a money thing, people will make decisions based on other, more important factors such as lifestyle! Now, Air Tanker and it's type of work might not suit me but it might be right up an ex mil chaps street or someone who is in the desert looking for an exit or someone who is perhaps in their late 40's at one of the above mentioned airlines who would like a long haul command to see their days out. Horses for courses chaps/chapesses!