If you have realistic expectations, the airline career can still be a blast. From the cockpit door forward its still pretty neat. Aft of that, not so much. As with all things, timing is an important part of the equation. Don't let all the gloom and doom stop you from entering aviation if thats your dream. My Civil aviation mentor flies at a regional and loves his job. He lives within his means, yet is still comfortable. He and his family travel, have a nice enough house and as best I can tell the bills are getting paid.