FI Rating
The FI rating is a good apprenticeship.
Yep it surely is a tough end of the industry to work in and I do not blame anyone for not wanting to do it especially if they believe there is very little monetary reward as they would be right.
It does serve however to be a good grounding for the future whatever you go on to do commercially. It could be worth the price tag for that alone.
Those lucky enough not to have had to endure this rung of the ladder will never fully understand the mental torture that instructors have to go through.
Even if you don't plan to make instructing your future I do think there are merits to this approach even if it's short term. It may be another wad of cash you have to front up but hey this is aviation. Get used to it!
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
Interestingly enough I know of one FI job going in the South part of the country.