You left airline flying because it was "too much of a sacrifice"; wait till you try business jet flying!
Unfortunately, in Europe it seems part-time pilots and "self improvers" have seriously damaged the career business jet professionals. Look at it from the owner's perspective, "I've got a pilot who wants me to train him, pay him a professional wage and benefits" OR, "I can get a pilot by the day who pays for his training". Which would you choose, if you were paying? In EU, the owners often grab the cheapest, in the US, 98% of the Chief Pilots wouldn't waste a second throwing them out.
Contractors with good experience in type in the US can work all they want for $1,500-$2,000 per day and usually are on speed dial with two or three departments. I am not sim current on the Challengers and Globals (4,000 hours on the types) and can't stop the phone from ringing.
GF