EK4457:
It is a good question and it simply comes down to the fact I live close to my airfield, I love the peeps I work with and get to fly over my house everyday and smile.
Sure, the novelty will wear off and after a coupla years now it's started. But I feel CERTAIN my experiences gained as an FI have made me more of a pilot (in the basic sense).
At school I was never a high acheiver and basically, out of most my original set of mates, I have exceeded the best in terms of a perceived job, so the money aspect so far has been clouded by a genuine sense of happiness at where I'm at right now.
But I shall look at the airlines the moment I feel otherwise.
Rule one in life: Never make a career decision based on money.
VFE.