It's not bad at all. The CR9 is unfairly maligned sometimes. It's a good stable plane, the 2-2 seating is comfortable, and a block-to-block trip time of about 2:20 is pretty endurable.

Get seats near the front (row 10 or higher, give or take) if you are claustrophobic, but otherwise, relax. It is certainly not worth the stress of an ATL connection to avoid a short CR9 flight.