To those who reckon we do it tough here in Oz working under the various Pilot Awards, you need to compare like-sized operations in the USA.
Plenty of commuter-level pilots there really do live in camper vans close to the airport, as that's all they can afford.
Many will fly a six day week and 1000 hours a year for about what we would pay a good barista. In their early years Yank pilots typically get two weeks annual leave, and it never gets to our standard six weeks no matter how far you make it up the food chain.
Not saying that our Pilot Awards are all that flash compared with conditions enjoyed by other professions, but still better than no protections at all.
No-one requires anyone to be a pilot. We take up flying for our own reasons and need to accept that it's a hard slog to the left seat of that nice jet.