Debt has value at times. Can't afford a car? But need one to work? Car payments make sense.

Same with getting to become a professional pilot. Drag your feet getting your qualifications, all to avoid debt, and it takes you another year to start your career? If the hiring boom stops in that year you are SOL. Ask the airline pilots who didn't upgrade in the summer of 2001 because they wanted to enjoy their last summer as a senior FO. Upgrade cancelled post 9/11. Took him 6 years to upgrade. If going debt free costs you the best year of you career (the last year), and being one year more junior every day of your career, you've made a huge mistake if you choose debt free but the price to pay was a year less as a professional pilot. The delays hurt. You won't see it until later.