"In reference to an airline career if you can skip the CFI route and then don't then it is a needless diversion and as such a "waste of time"."

Furthermore, I strongly disagree with this statement. I currently have just over 500 TT, 75 Multi, and a highly desirable (To regionals) Jet course under my belt. I can easily leave now and go to a regional. A lot of my colleagues have left for regionals with 100 hours less than I have. However, I CHOSE to become a CFI and instruct for a year before doing this. The reason... I want to build experience. If you deny the fact that a pilot becomes infinitely more skilled by teaching, then you are sadly misguided. I feel that I have a talent for teaching, I enjoy it, and I feel that I am gaining as much as my students are from the experience. I want to begin my airline career alright, but I also don't want to be a burden on my captains, and a safety hazard for my passengers. And extra year of experience teaching someone to fly can only help.