The Westmorland Flye
...well I'm not in any of your categories!
I'm a FI in possession of a BCPL which I gained by taking the CPL exams and the CPL test when the BCPL first came out nearly 20 years ago, but didn't do the FI course until last year. All in all, I reckon I must have spent the equivalent in today's money of the thick end of £50k before I received my very first pay cheque earned flying. Mind you, that has been spent over 25 years, much of it on recreational flying and it's ALL been fun, so what the heck?
I'd be very happy to work alongside people with a PPL and a FI rating who were paid the same as me, provided they were good at what they do. I do believe that experience and ability to teach are FAR more important than a paper qualification. Don't demean the CPL, though, it isn't easy to do (wasn't for me, anyhow, doing it in my spare time). I found the FIC much tougher, but actually instructing is another ball game altogether, I'm REALLY starting to learn how to fly, now!
Cheers,
TheOddOne