Nothing wrong with Meat Bombing.
My journey started flying Skydivers straight off a new CPL, the equipment was C182 and C207.
I chose not to do "the drive" but to pick a town (or an aeroclub) and stick with it. In my case it paid off.
The money was rubbish but it was regular flying.
The flying school that I started my CPL with used to rail against "Skydiver Driving" as a career option,
"has no credibility" "good for nothing else" etc etc ya get the drift.
(I finished my CPL with someone else, albeit not soon enough)
That first "job" lead on to to a Twotter and later a SAAB340 and on it went. (all the while still a member of same Dero Club
)
(bloody meat raffle was rigged but)
I guess the point is everyone has a different journey, there are no right or wrong paths.
But the networking component certainly helps sometimes more than the qualification.
My 2 Pence Worth
Good luck
BAz