Not sure why you see my comments as inflamatory. They are a simple statement of the current situation. The career instructor is a rarity these days, 98% of Instructors are only doing the job so they can build hours for an airline job. The FTO's take advantage of this on the grounds that they know they are not going to be shown any loyalty so why should they?
Just because someone spent £50k on a career does not make them any worthier of a higher wage than a bus driver etc. and it is very arrogant to assume that the amount you spend equates to your worth. The ATPL's are not a great tax of the individuals ability they are just expensive and a demonstration of what can be remembered long enough to take an exam. Lets have a straw poll of those of us who think we could take the exams again tommorrow and pass?
The FI will be undervalued as long as it is not taken as being a serious career by those who use it as a route to "better" things. When the airlines start to sponsor tested candidates and take instructing as a means of building hours out of the loop FI's will start to be treated as the professionals they are.
In the meantime quit bleating about the tough life and giving me a hard time for pointing out the facts.