Well being a pilot hasn't always been my dream. When I was young I was very much "go big or go home," if I couldn't fly the 777 right away I didn't want to have to work through the regionals and all. Even more so when I learned how horrible the pay was.
Now I'm seeing (particularly AMR subsidiaries) offer decent wages and bonuses for pilots on account of the shortage, and many even offer cadet programs that work you up from CFI to ATP hours in a partner academy then pay for your ATP when you hit the minimums, giving you a couple grand in tuition reimbursements along the way. My question is here, how quickly and cheaply could I expect to get from zero to the CFI level? I can roughly figure costs, though I see varying hours for CFI requirements and can't find a solid source. So, at least to get to commercial, I know I'd need 250 hours. Of those, probably 40-50 would need to be with an instructor, the rest could be done solo. I'm still legally a military dependent (evening student at the moment, after this semester, I'll have 8 credits left to an associate's degree, though in a non-aviation field, which I could take online if forced to move, which would be the case as none of the AMR partner academies are located near Boston) so I have access to the aero club on base (part 141,) where the prices listed for Piper Warrior, Arrow, and Aztec are $50/hour solo, $84 with instructor. So by those maths to get to a commercial licence, the flying alone would cost about 14K. I have no idea what they charge for classes, their website doesn't list them,. but they do train up to the commercial level. I could go elsewhere for a CFI, which I've read an average cost for that course is about $4000.
So I have a rough idea about costs, I don't know about time though. What's generally considered an appropriate amount of time to go from zero hours to CFI? I'm already well versed in principles of flight and such, have simulator time (most of it is home simulator, but I've flown full cockpit sims of a Cherokee and a 737-800 before) so it's not like I'm totally green, I just lack the logbook. I'm worried that if this takes too long there won't be any spots left in the cadet programs (particularily Envoy's, the money is best there, the domiciles are more agreeable than other AMR airlines (Ocean City? Harrisburg? Come on, Piedmont! Chicago and Dallas are solid choices, not to mention I've family in the former and a friend in the latter who I could crash with for a couple of weeks while I apartment shop, where they are dirt cheap in Dallas,)) or the airlines will have stopped hiring. I think this is the right move for me, so I desperately want to get it right the first time. Any and all input is greatly appreciated, even if it's to say you're absolutely mad it can't be done.

Thanks in advance,
321gal

Oh, another little question; do regionals have height restrictions? I know CRJ operators tend to restrict FAs to 5'11" due to the 6' ceilings; I'm 6'3", whenever I fly them I have to stoop to move about the cabin and nearly always hit my head on the door jamb. The one ERJ flight I was on was worse. Envoy fortunately flies the E175, though I doubt I'm likely to get right on there, as it's probably the most in demand considering AA flies the E190 mainline; it's a good transition flow to the majors.