Flying is no longer exclusive that is a very fair point KH.
But as for the SSTR and pay to fly issue; as I have stated in other posts the biggest thing that has contributed to the pay to fly culture is not the wannabes but the fact that most turboprops first officer jobs have low salaries and excessive bonds (Eastern, Air Southwest, 20k bond over four years, salary 20-22K a year, Atlantic 42K bond on the Electra, salary approx 22k).
Fact remains most FOs on a medium jets are still receiving a decent salary, so for many individuals the decision to self fund a type rating and line training is more preferable to taking a bond and low salary on a turbo prop.
Air southwest a few years back use to bond about 10K, Atlantic 25K bond on the Electra, so why in recent years have these bonds doubled in value.
Consider the price of gaining the experience to obtain an air taxi job,
FI rating: now 6-7000 pounds,
Instructing full time to gain 700 hours total time: minimal pay
IRI upgrade : 2000 (Instrument instructing to build the 100 hours IFR)
40 hours of multi engine hour building in the US, at least 5000 pounds (isn't that paying to fly?) .
Ok so may be lucky enough to build the time as a safety pilot on empty legs (but hey isn't that working for free)
Cost of getting the minimum experience for air taxi work:
12- 13000 pounds.
Add in the multi instrctor rating as most operators want more than the minimum 700 with 40 multi and the price becomes 15000 pounds.
So compare that to self funding a rating at 20K, a SSTR doesn't actually seem that bad an option.
I am not saying I agree with SSTR or pay for line training schemes but I can understand why many opt for this route.