Thankyou Sam,
I'm glad to see a more balanced reply. However, I've said from the beginning that I'm not anti CPL or trying to drive any devides. I simply think the present system requires too much in time and money to make becoming an instructor attractive. Indeed, if CPL's didn't need to use it as a stepping stone in terms of hours building, I'm sure we'd be in real dire straits as few would bother!
Every good aviator I know strives to learn more about aviation than they need to know. Is doing a CPL course not doing this?
Of course it is, but you'd don't really need to get the CPL (and spend all that money) to improve your knowledge if you have no desire to make a living from flying. I'm not knocking those that do, it shows commitment, but they are probably hoping to do it for a living. There are amatuer experts in all walks of life ... you don't have to be a professional to excell in anything.
SS