Well, what I was trying to say is to get your ratings while you are making money at your job, and pay for them with any disposable income you may have. Do not quit your job and shell out $70,000 out of pocket to get them. That is what I meant by choosing option 1.

Others with more experience in here can tell you that the "pipeline" thing ATP and some other flight schools tout is very overrated. All you get is an interview, which you would have probably gotten any way just having the min credentials.

CFI Jobs are not hard to find these days, so that should be a minimal consideration.