36 aint that old ... I'd go airline pilot all the way
Just because everyone in this forum is obsessed with getting into a handful of finicky top-shelf jet operators doesn't mean there isn't plenty of turboprop, corporate and regional jet operators who'd hire you just as readily as any other punter with an FATPL.
And no sponsor is right w.r.t. FI wages, they are appalling and in some cases non existent for low hour FI's, don't go down that road unless you are prepared to factor in the hidden cost of trying to live for nothing / pay the mortgage etc. Things may have improved in the 3 or 4 years since I last instructed but for example, as a PPL instructor I was on a £500 / month basic retainer and £6 per hour flown - i.e. £800 gross, before tax, per month, was a good month for me
It's harder now than it used to be to get into the well paid instructing, i.e. ME and IR stuff, as well with all these requirements for multi engine PIC before you can even start to go down that road.