Always remember that this forum exists as a talking shop for people who want to get into the right hand seat of an airliner, but haven't got there yet. Therefore, and inevitably, you'll have a mixture of (a) those with no flying experience but loads of enthusiasm, (b) those in the various stages of training, who still have a dream but whose enthusiasm has possibly been dulled by experience and costs, and (c) those who have completed training, got the little blue book but for whatever reason have been unable to find a job, and are understandably negative. Always bear that in mind when seeking advice.
What you'll struggle to find on this forum are current airline pilots. That's because as soon as most people get their first job, wannabes' issues become secondary to their next LPC/OPC, keeping up with notacs and changes to SOPs, planning their next career move and staying abreast with crewroom gossip. I can personally think of at least a dozen names who used to post here but are now happily driving airliners, and who no longer post. At the same time, I reckon the number of current airline pilots who regularly post on 'wannabes' is around ten at most - and that includes the mods. Which is a shame, but quite understandable.
So to try and answer the original question. With the best will in the world, those advising; "go for it, 'tis better to try and fail than not try in the first place" are no doubt genuine, but probably speak from positions of little or no experience. Those advising you to stop are likely as not doing so because flying training and the search for a first job has been an unhappy experience.
I do not agree that flying is a 'disease'. Passion - yes, obsession - quite possibly, but there's nothing inherently destructive about flying as long as you keep your feet on the ground. I do know that getting from zero hours to an airline job is a bloody hard slog that some people enter into without doing enough homework. The demands of training can damage health and relationships as much as finances. It is perfectly normal to have doubts about your eventual success - more than once I came close to jacking it all in. Aged 35 I had my ATPLs in the bag, hours built, and a safe, undemanding, well paid office job in London. I decided to leave my job, borrow money for the CPL/IR & MCC and throw myself into full-time training because I faced a choice between following my dream (and risking it all) or playing safe and spending the rest of my 'career' in crushing boredom, ground down by the daily commute. In short, I rolled the dice. I got lucky - a job with a decent airline less than 3 months after finishing the IR. Now I'm happier than I've ever been in my life - I really struggle to articulate just how good the feeling is.
BUT - I know I've been lucky. During training I met people with just as much determination as me, some who'd sold houses to pay for training, some with rich families. To be brutally frank, some of them wouldn't make airline pilots as long as they've got a hole in their bum. Some guys just do not have the aptitude for this game, however much they want it, and they simply will not make it through airline selection - however good the job market.
So while I'd love to say; "follow your dream, it worked for me" I can't advise doing it without a cold, hard look at your chances of getting a job. Look beyond the next two or three years - you have plenty of time yet. Can you succeed in getting a job when the market picks up? Unfortunately the GAPAN tests are not suitable with your hours, but can you answer yes to these questions? Did you pass the PPL skills test first time with close to minimum hours? Can you pass all the ATPLs first time with a 90%+ average? Do you usually succeed at job interviews? The real tests come with CPL/IR training, but these will at least give you some pointers.
Personally, I'd concentrate on finishing the written exams and leave flying for the moment. If you do well at the ATPLs, seek out a friendly commercial instructor and ask him to fly with you and give you an honest assessment of your abilities. At least then you'll be in a position to decide whether to proceed based on evidence rather than feelings.
Hope that helps.