Zaphod, the last genuine pilot shortage was in the skies over Southern England in September 1940! I think the point you are making is best illustrated at a major city in Canada, when the pilots go to work they do so on a buss, as living in Toronto on the salary paid by the airline there is no way most can afford a car. Whilst on the bus they sit behind a driver who makes about three to four times more money than they do,{depending on years of service} a driver gets full benefits, paid vacation and sick leave , is paid if his shift is cancelled, has two pedals {stop and go and one route to learn, } none of which the pilots get, but he/she is not overpaid by any measure given the cost of living in Toronto. My advice to kids wanting to fly is get a good job or trade and buy your own aircraft and have fun, but if you really must fly go with a survey company/medevac/corporate, anything but a regional! If these kids want to re-build pay and working conditions the all must "stop the props" or things will not get any better!