The only problem I have with the "get into this industry only if you love to fly" position is that it's detached from the constraints of real life. No one should be expected to starve in order to go to work. Saying flying is for the purists is acknowledging this vocation is a de facto hobby. I know the majority of pilots would take exemption to having their "profession" labeled a hobby, and many would jump to the rant about the level of responsibility they carry in flying people across the country, and how serious they take their day to day duties.

Yet, that is exactly what the airline gig has effectively become on an economic basis. A hobby. For all the time away from home, the lack of lateral mobility in case of loss of employment (yikes!), and the below-cost-of-living compensation at the regional level for the same relative level of responsibility as those in the majors, the only economic rationalization to making that the model for your family's ability to put food on the table is that you'd do it for free if that's what they offered. That's a hobby. Otherwise you couldn't possibly argue the money is no object, since it doesn't take an accountant to prove you can't possibly sustain a family at the same level your median college graduate buddy can on his line of work with similar years of experience (let's assume you have a 4 year degree like most pilots do). What's the opportunity cost? Sunsets at FLXXX? Travel to different cities (if the layover hotel counts)? That value will of course depend on the individual. A single 22 y/o will probably regard that cost as worthwhile whereas a 32 y/o head of household with 2 kids and not cheating on his wife would probably not. So like one poster alluded to above, the audience here matters.

Like many of us, flying is my passion, but I live in the real world where those feelings don't occur in a vaccum. I also have a (soon-to-be) wife and expectations of a family, and what the industry currently offers in terms of compensation and TAFB is just not worth the pain in my opinion. Of course, that is something every hopeful needs to evaluate for themselves as personal circumstances are unique to each individual. For my money, unless you live on base (somebody already suggested above the rather ellusive nature of domiciles and how they're so keen on changing) and are on your early 20s, I wouldn't do it [the regionals]. As for the majors, sans age, same deal applies, I think history has proven they are no less suseptible to fold and leave you high and dry, without lateral moves as a career. It's not for everybody. At the very least I'm not sure it's for me nowadays, albeit I did have military aviation available to me, so I've found my sugar substitute, but had I attempted to do it through the regionals I don't think I would've hacked it.

Good luck in your career.