Really - those are the two choices in aviation?
Pilots ***** themselves out all the time.
Always have and always will.
PFT anyone?
Buying type ratings?
Offering to fly for free to build hours? Free instruction/free BFRs/IPCs.
If you don't consider the work worthwhile - I would absolutely go elsewhere.
But to think that every pilot out there wants to work for the airlines - in any capacity - is just idiotic.