Err, I do not know why you are ruling out becoming a commercial pilot at the age of 30.
Many people decide to change their vocation in their 30's - not just those wanting to become pilots. Many on this forum are older than you, in various stages along the road to a ATPL/CPL/IR.
Some people have posted on the amount of newly qualified pilots, and its safe to say that it is in the thousands. WWW had a useful formula in working out the number of schools, and their respective output. Another good statistic is the number of initial Class 1 medicals being issued (alot less than it used to be).
You will join the ranks of not only the newly qualified but,
- those with Grandfather rights coming from commonwealth countries - NZ, Oz and others. This caused a huge problem for newbies in the late 1990's when low cost carriers recruited directly in these countries, rather than take home-grown candidates.
- the recently redundant mass of pilots from the UK and EU.
- All other EU countries - in Jan of next year, a new batch joins the EU with automatic rights to work in any EU country.
- those who retire from Big Airways at 55, and want to work for another 5 years.
It's not a rosy picture, but then it never is in the airline industry. I suspect that over the course of the next few years you will see:
- a significant decrease in the number of people attempting to become a pilot as they become disillusioned with the chance of getting a decent job, and the cost makes it prohibitive. Added to the fact that salaries will continue to decrease.
- a decrease in the number of flight training schools - the number is unsustainable given the above point.
I would say: if you want to be a commercial pilot, of course you have to do the necessary qualifications. If you don't, leave it, remain a PPL, and buy a share of a nice plane to take you and your family away to the house in Spain for long weekends...