I'm curious, how exactly is a 20 something year old supposed to go about creating the foundations of a career as an airline pilot, since you seem to know it all?
To do stuff for free is certainly not the right way to do it. How can you even call it a "career" if you don't get paid to do it?
People need to realise that it is not worth everything to be up there. Do you think it is reasonable to do something for free that someone is making money out of in a commercial business?
Tow gliders if you want to do something for free!
If you want fun flying, get a PPL, buy your own aircraft and bash it around.