Very true on that. I really don't want to dump more money into flying (and I don't really have the money to dump in), on the other hand, I'm not getting the time/hours/pay/etc that I need to live on from instructing. So on one hand I can't really afford to wait and see what happens and get caught by the 1500 hour rule and end up instructing additional months or years. Also, I'm doubtful that when the 1500 hour rule kicks in that the airlines will suddenly up salaries and QOL. Afterall, at least for people in my situation, an airline job will be a pay increase and probably a better QOL, and after being stuck in a dead-end low-pay CFI job for an extended amount of time they will probably be all the more desperate to move onto the next step in their career and willing to take the job with all of its negatives.

As for the RJ course, I think it is a waste of money (maybe if you instruct at ATP and can get it half price it isn't as much a waste). But the people I know that went acted like what they really got out of it was learning to use an FMS and just a general airline style training. I'm not sure that is worth 5k. Its not like you end up with a type rating or anything tangible in the end.