200 hours is ridiculous, and your friend's instructors and school(s) need a bloody good kick up the arse. It is not up to the student to decide that they are not the right stuff, it is up to the training organisation. If a student is struggling unusually hard, then they should be passed to a more experienced and senior instructor. If that instructor also has serious doubts about the wisdom of the student continuing, then he or she should have a frank discussion with the student and warn them that they will simply be throwing good money after bad. Unfortunately, that cash is very important to most schools...
Your friend can certainly try taking time off flying, but that's unlikely to improve whatever innate ability he has. If he has the talent, it should have bee discovered by now. If, as seems likely, he doesn't, then the fairest advice would be to suggest he gives up his ambition of flying commercially and makes efforts to earn his money elsewhere. If he insists, he can maintain his private flying under supervision, but without the pressure of it being the stepping-stone to a career. He needs to understand his limitations, and make the best of whatever other talents he has.
Scroggs