The first and very very small camp are the amazing mentors, the ones who truly have a passion for GA. The ones who have a tireless ability and attitude to train, guide and encourage employees and students. The sort of pilots and people you want to emulate in every aspect of airmanship, ability and attitude. In my 20 years of flying, I have met 2 such people.
The second camp are the dregs. The ones due to poor ability or attitude couldn’t make it any further and are essentially ‘stuck’ in GA.
Sadly, largely, very true. The problem is that the ambitious people who want to make things happen (for themselves and others) actually DO make things happen, and move on.
I do wonder if the competent GA pilots that I have known would want to keep flying GA charter and instructing for $150k if they could chance their hand in the next biggest aircraft and continue to challenge their skills instead.