I flew with an FO recently who came from the city. He loves flying but is thinking of going back to the city or else contracting and doing both. The problem with flying is that some people will work for nothing and do virtually anything to get there. (a statement, not a criticism). It's all well and good saying you won't work for less than £xx but if you're surrounded by guys who will then you've got problems.
I love flying but if I had to do it all again, I probably wouldn't bother..the industry T's and C's are on a downward slope to a bottomless pit. I'd still have a PPL and my own plane though!