I don't think I'd avoid it at all costs. Compared to a lot of other things you could be doing it's pretty good, but it does have it's own set of challenges. Most guys would agree that ANG can be a better way to go.

As far as the misc additional duties, there is essentially no way to avoid this in any branch of the military if you're a full timer. I think the ANG and USAFR full timer's actually do as much or more add'l duties as active duty.

I've also found that the USAF does a lot less in the way of additional duties than the other branches of the service.

If your only goal is to eventually be a civilian pilot, the active duty may not be what you want. You have to want to be in the active duty to "embrace" the challenges that it will throw at you. If you just want to get the training and fast track to the majors, you'll hate it the first time they send you somewhere remote for 45 days.

If you don't mind playing soldier through your 20's and early 30's then it can actually be fun, and you end up a pretty marketable commodity when you're ready to settle down.