Pilots aren't "most people". I worked a small flight school in the 90s, back when CFIs would work for $5/hr. Most young students were fully funded by someone else. In fact there was only ONE poor kid who framed houses while he paid cash for lessons and time. Every airline pilots son had a free ride through college and flight training. They were also the ones who made it to a major in their 20s and survived the post 911 layoffs.