Every single American who leaves EK and goes back to the U.S. talks about this invisible weight that is lifted off their shoulders. They didn't know they had this pressure while they were working in the Middle East but it is a tremendous weight that is gone and they feel so much better for leaving.
That in itself has to be worth more than a little bit of coin.
I think some of the Regional guys think the majors treat their pilots just like the Regionals do. Nothing could be further from the truth. Any Legacy or Major in the world is the pinnacle of the profession. Emirates is most definitely not in that category.