I kinda agree with ya there 'HST', pilot as a profession is marginal I reckon in fact I've always maintained it's a more a 'trade' than anything else hence it's not paid that well especially anymore when compared to IT jobs etc.
Like most jobs it's (pilot) a learned skill being a plane driver & seeing as you need very little in the way of formal education to be a plane driver then a trade is more suited to the job.:-)
Wmk2