Ah Slasher, well put as usual.
However, as regards the advice to the 20 year old, I don't think I would also say Go for It!
As you say, conditions have been getting worse for years. Also, there is little prospect of the daily "security" farce ever going away.
I would also think there is a fair prospect of fully automatic airliners within the working lifetime of a 20 year old. Possibly even pilotless or perhaps "monitored" by a "pilot". Not much of a prospect.