What I find interesting is how all those on here advocating the CFI-route don't look at the individual. Lots of people weren't made to teach - just think about how many lousy teachers you had in school, and how many lousy CFI's you've come across.

Why would ya'll say that it is absurd for a 500-hr guy to fly 50+ passengers around, but okay to teach somebody the art of flying? The only difference is that with CFI'ing, you will most likely kill only one other person in the process. In a Jet, however, you'll be the junior crewmember with a mentor in the left seat...

If somebody really doesn't want to teach, don't force them. It's dangerous and irresponsible. A lousy CFI can teach lousy habits, which can easily lead to a fatal accident. Would you want that on your conscience?

"But there are other ways to build time - like banner-towing," you say...Can you expect somebody to really spend many weeks or months hunting down a lousy-paying job in another part of the Country when a half-decent airline may be knocking down their door? Some just don't have the network of friends and contacts you may have enjoyed.

If we were all the same, this would be an incredibly boring world. Don't knock someone 'cause they're not your idea of the "right stuff."