Joining QF is a good investment if you're young and don't mind a long wait to progress. Good pay and conditions together with a nice lifestyle. If you can still be under forty after a fifteen year wait for the left seat then go for it.
Once you hit late thirties some careful thinking is needed on how important career progression vs lifestyle is to you. In the same time it takes to go from S/O to F/O at QF, you could go from new joiner to skipper at a low cost. The top of the pay scale is lower, however you reach it much quicker but other conditions aren't as good.
Lifestyle is a personal taste, visiting exotic places vs home most nights. Jetlagged vs waking up at normal hours feeling fine.
You may only get one shot at QF during your entire career, the low cost option will probably be available several times.
Decide what's more important for YOU.
