Interesting post...
Lufc,
If I was you, I wouldn't just concentrate on becoming "the airline pilot".
Aviation is a huge industry with all different types of flying. Give as much of it a go as you possibly can. Just taking the instructing work to get the hours is going to skip so much!
You have 40-50yrs of flying ahead of you, whats the rush? Specially now that some GA contract work pays as much or more than airline work.