Pay to play may be wrong (I believe it is), but he might be right about one thing: an 18yo that follows this may, over his lifetime, earn more..... assuming the potential stigma of pay to play doesn't follow him around.

On the other hand, if a 16 yo traded work at the local FBO for flight time through the commercial, then at 18 he hauled checks, CFIed, or towed banners, etc. he would be richer still.
(sorry for the run on)