Potkettleblack - Entirely correct in my opinion and you would do very well to follow those tips closely. HALT the atpl course if i were you and follow those steps he has written, roughly and it will set you up verywell whilst fullfiling your passion for flying which we all share.
Private flying will be just as challenging and rewarding for you and you are in control of the flying, rather than being held to ransom by flight schools, regulators and living expenses.
Keep flying fun as that is what it should always be. In my view there will be alternative technologies in light aircraft very soon, Boeing has already flown fuel cell planes. Flying should be a low energy and economical process eventually i think and hydrogen/electricity will be the future i think but maybe on a more VLJ principle.
Good luck to you and well done for listening to everyones advice!