Well if you spend $60-100k yeah it's quite the bad deal. Especially if considered on top of college debt, assuming you have it.

But if you use your head and work smart it is possible to only owe $35k for everything including CFI with 50 hours of multi-engine time. That is an amount that can be justified if the return on investment is potentially high, which it is in some cases for pilots. You would have to enjoy the lifestyle and sacrifices inherent in airline flying and be willing to stick it out and make it to a major airline. But it can be done and is done all the time. If what you really want out of your professional life is easy money and an easy life, that's fine but airline work is probably not for you. It's a demanding job for those with a little extra drive than in a lot of occupations.

There is a short summary on the piloting career found in Occupational Outlook Handbook.