Millerscourt- Not sure about your logic, only a fool would enter a new profession without being armed with as much inside knowledge as possible, believe me I've worked in other professions that with hindsight I wish I'd learnt more about first.
I'm one of the lucky few who has landed a job post 9/11. I qualified at the beginning of this year and am now working for a charter operator on turbo props.
What's it like? Fantastic!! Yes it's hard work with unsociable hours (I can think of better places to be than doing a walk round at 3am in foul weather), however I get alot of hands-on flying to a variety of destinations and it goes without saying that the views are incredible! Maybe I'm still at the rose tinted spectacles stage but I still can't help but smile to myself when we're in the cruise knowing I'm getting paid for doing my dream job.