Yeah totally agree. I'm seriously thinking of going FI as soon as I finish.
To me the big advantages are: - Keeping current, building hours constructively, seriously honing the flying skill's, getting myself near the top of the pile when things pick up for a TP job, earning some (although little) money, having another string to the bow, make some new contacts, have some fun flying (Might be slightly morbid but stalls and PFL's are great fun to me!)
The downsides as I see them: - Naff money, more training expense, competitive job market (albeit nothing like the low hour FO job market!!!
)
The economic downturn has made me think about things a bit more.... Airline flying is what I aspire to but I'm determined to have some fun first with instructing/air taxi/bush flying/crop spraying....you get the idea. (Although thats not to say I'd turn down an airline job if one materialised....maybe the easter bunny will bring one this year!)