Flying for fun:
I think that nothing more than alot of skill gets you up through the ranks in Formula 1. Maybe I am wrong but I believe most of the drivers out there are like all other professional sports people....they are lucky/good enough to get spotted. It is a totally different scenario. If I was the richest man alive.....I still couldn't become Michael Schumacher. I just haven't the skill.
As for the IT industry............I am afraid I also disagree. I am an IT professional and my company keep me current. If I wanted to do contract work and make huge amounts of money (well back in the old days at least) then I would need to keep myself current and spend that money. In turn for this expenditure I would receive a very handsome renumeration....much larger than working in a fulltime position. Thus you get back what you put in directly. This is not the case in aviation.
As I said, I am not suggesting anything about any pilot...I have the greatest respect.....I am merely stating my personal feelings on the way the industry is going with regards to recruitment and FTO's.
NCusack