There are far MORE people who had the dream, trained and then found themselves in an unemployed nightmare than those who can give you happy stories. They are not on Pprune. They do not come here anymore.
While I don't doubt that's true, it doesn't have to be quite so 'all or nothing'. Your other option is training on a modular basis while keeping your existing career going. I totally agree giving up 18 months of income and £80k to OAA/CTC seems ludicrous (unless you're on a tagged scheme, or BA FPP).
I guess the hope is that the market will open up again at the lower end over the next two or three years in some shape or form. My plan is to get the CPL finished off, and then take a view on whether its worth ploughing ahead with the MEIR and/or FI(A).
Worst case scenario I'll end up with an fATPL I can't use, continue with my existing career and just keep flying as a hobby, perhaps doing some instructing.
If you don't try you'll never know!