I'd say do the PPL - you'll always regret not doing it and it's a lot of fun
Going on to be a professional - Different choices - and not all pilots jobs are Airbus or Boeing taxi drivers.
If you want to get depressed read any of the Qantas or (worse) Cathay forums on here - some very embittered people I'm afraid. But the other forums are full of people who love flying - even when it doesn't pay very much.....