A fairly well known QF pilot once remarked in a magazine interview that prior to joining Qantas she never had a holiday, let alone an overseas one. I don't think it was an attempt at being glib, but indicative of what can lie at the end of the long hard slog up the ladder.
As a professional long haul pilot, I don't think many would argue that it were unreasonable to either have the time to embrace the destination on the layover, or at least to be earning an income that would allow a lifestyle (including travel) on their days off.
Sadly I think the majority of (and apparently permanent) RFO's will see niether.