Hi,
Ive been there! I havent read your post entirely but I would like to make a point. As a pilot, you need the associated fATPL licenses. If you do a degree, it would be better if you can do it in some other field which is not with aviation, as you are aware, aviation degrees are not very well recognised (perheps apart from the industry itself), so it might not be worth the time and money, particularly because you want to be a pilot ultimately and the only qualification you need for this are the licences.
So it might be however better if you have a degree in some other dicipline, engineering or something else that will prove something about you, not to forget a degree does not have to be in aviation to be recognised by an airline when applying for a job as a pilot.
regards.