Can't agree enough. Get yourself studying for the B2 licence and don't worry about the gloom and doom merchants.
The industry has changed a lot even in the last 3 years post Sep 11th but the jobs are still there and if you're prepared to graft the rewards are there too.
Too many people on an easy thing before are griping now they have to work for a living.
As for this comment -
These qualifications are not of any real value. You need to have a B1 or a B2 licence.
It's utter rubbish - around 80% of the staff I work with at a large airline don't have B1 or B2 licences.