Wow, what a lot of negativity!
Where are all the pilots who love what they do and wouldn't change it for all the tea etc? - could it be that they're all out charging around the skies saving lives, hunting criminals or flying around the world's most beautiful places with the world's most interesting people...rather than reading some internet forum??
No, I'm not negative at all.
After more then 40 years and 21,000 hours in helicopters I still love it and I would do it again.
I'm not quite sure if I could say the same doing the North Sea, but luckily still on my lifting and AG stuff.
You have to see the personal circumstances and in that case the most sensible way seems to run the family business and fly for fun.