Is getting a CFI that you'll never use with it? Absolutely. You don't know what you don't know, and going through CFI and digging into all that knowledge makes you a more well rounded pilot. You'll find that you didn't really understand aerodynamics or the regulations until you start trying to explain it to someone else. Now all that being said, do you have to get a CFI to be a good pilot? No. If you absolutely don't plan on instructing, then don't get it. However the way the hiring environment works right now, you should absolutely plan on instructing. It is nearly impossible to get anyone to take you seriously without at least 500 hours. Don't think you can short cut it. Going from 300 hrs. to 500 hrs. doesn't sound like that big of a jump, but it really is. And at roughly $200/hr, an airplane rental would cost you $40k. Might as well instruct and get paid for those 200 hours and then reassess whether you want to keep instructing or wether you really want to go to a place like Boutique (Hint: read the previous pages on this thread). Plus you'll see that a lot of 135 operations actually list "CFI Preferred" in their requirements. It can only serve to benefit you, even if you never use it (but you more than likely will use it). For now, you've got a lot of ratings to work on, so focus on those first and then see where you are once you have your Comm. Multi. Just my two cents.