Gosh, there seem to an awful lot of personal axes being ground on this thread. I personally find it quite surreal when the 'I know better because I'm high-houred/low-houred/PPL/ATPL' brigade get into their stride. My own observation, from 30 years of instruction, is that a good instructor is a bit like a gentleman (or lady). Difficult to define, but you know one when you see one.
Flying instruction will always be poorly remunerated, because otherwise flying training will price itself out of the market - I left home at 0730 yesterday, got back at 2000, flew seven lessons, managed a 10 minute break to wolf down a sandwich and took home £83, of which £20 went on petrol. It follows that you need people prepared to work for peanuts to populate the instructor force. This includes weekenders and hours builders. Not right or fair, but that's the way of the world.
Mmm. Looks like a lovely evening in prospect to fly my microlight.
