I originally was a mechanic for eagle and ata. Didi the cfi thing for 13 months, flew freight for a few years in a navajo and metro(single pilot) and am now a FO on the 170 for a regional. I think that the 135 route is the best experience that any pilot can have. It not only makes you a better stick, but it builds character. With the exception of pay(so far), this is the best JOB i've ever had. I think people lose sight that this IS a job (and some jobs can really suck). In comparison to the real world(pay included) we're not doing too bad.