Before the 9/11 "security" befell the airline industry I used to regularly ask to visit flight decks on my various travels with work and enjoyed talking to the crews (Thanks guys!). I have always loved flying and around 1999/2000 I was seriously considering giving up my job to take my PPL further and go commercial/Airlines etc.
However virtually all the Flight crews I spoke to advised against it, their reasoning was I would spend a year earning Zero $, yet spending mega $$$$ getting the licences/ratings, then even if I did get a job (no guarentee) it would be on half what I was earning and with a worse lifestyle for at least 10 years...
....That cold reasoning put me off the idea and had I gone for the CPL/ATPL etc I would have finished the training just as 911 happened with no job and no money - coincidentally, "family" happened around that time for me too.
Secretly I wonder if the enjoyment I get from flying (Its a treat for me) would have the edge taken off, if it were my job.......
Regards, SD..
PS: Now, if I were single with no family to think of, then it would be different and I would probably give it a shot as I would have nothing to lose....