The other thing to keep in mind is that aviation (like other industries) is a pyramid. There are a lot of bad jobs, a good amount of OK jobs, some good jobs, and a few great jobs. While the definition of a "bad" pilot job has improved in the last 5 years, no one gets in this industry with dreams of retiring in an E-175 making 130K. It will still be a rat race but at least those at the very bottom of the pyramid won't need to be on food stamps. Let's hope that never happens again.