Face it, you all want to make the big bucks and the path to that is simply large aircraft. As far as the airline pilot flaring high and not being on heading, pretty simple-his brain has been programmed for the sight picture he is used to day in day out. You might want to try to fly the MD-11 with 167 KT Vapp without the FD and see how that works out, we never turn it off because we realize the folly that could entail.
All weather flight operations are not something we take lightly, when you see a line of thunderstorms all thru your flightpath money takes a backseat.
The single best way to establish a high instrument skill level is the CFII way. It sucks that the money is not there, that's life. Be humble knowing you're giving your student the best his money can buy, he/she will be the source of your reputation. No need to justify that. The best I've flown with in 30+ years have been former instructors!