Also a rookie 1K segment flyer. As folks have mentioned, RJs carry higher risk of being delayed and/or canceled, so, if getting to your destination by a particular day is important, consider going as direct as you can outbound and adding in a segment here and there on the return.

Silver isn't much, but definitely trumps no status. And improves from there. Is a long first year, riding in the back and at the bottom of the upgrade list. But if you see yourself traveling a lot the next years, definitely worth doing what it takes to get as high a status as you can.