This thread has gotten so long, I am not even sure it worth my time to give my two cents, so here is the abbreviated version, IMHO:

I used to be an accountant. I began flying in 1998 when I was 16 years old, soloed at 16, license at 17, the regular early bird route. I sort of told myself that being an airline pilot might be a cool road, but I knew damn well that I wasn't going to major in it or go to ER or some other school. It was recommended to me to get a degree in something entirely different. 9/11 just confirmed the necessity for this.

I majored in accounting and began working at a firm. I enjoyed many things about it, but mostly was unhappy with it. I decided to finish up my instructor ratings and take the pay cut and see what happens.

I quit the accounting job with no other job in sight. I had a few goals before I quit, paying off all my credit cards, etc. I found a CFI job within a couple weeks and worked there for 5 months. That was the most fun I ever had!!! I would so be a career flight instructor if there was any money in it. I really enjoy teaching. However, the school I worked for was already on its way out when I joined up and it became apparent after 2 months or so that it wasn't going to last much longer. My flying went from 80 hours a month to 30, if that.

I had about 760/33 when I put out my stuff to the regionals. I was offered an interview at 4 or 5 carriers (declined all but one) and got on with Trans States. It seemed the best deal at the time, they flew me up for the interview, I got the job, and continued to teach at the school for another week or so, then I quit. (The school closed its door the following week - talk about timing).

Training began and I enjoyed it except for being away from my wife and home for 6 straight weeks. To me this was an experiment, if nothing else, a free way to learn more about aviation and jets, fly a cool simulator and make some friends.

Well, I passed training. I remember specifically feeling sort of down as the examiner was filling out my temporary license after the checkride. Most people are probably ecstatic about this. I was happy I passed, but this marked the beginning of reserve, commuting, being away from home, and the whole onslaught of unknown things to come.

IOE came and went and I was now officially on reserve. 6 weeks later I had a hard line. I was lucky.

Fast forward a year - 700 hours later - and my viewpoint hasn't really changed. The job is just cool enough to stick with right now. I do not view myself as a professional career pilot. I view myself as a professional accountant, who is also a GA pilot at heart, who happens to have a job flying jets right now. The benefit of this thought process is that I don't have as much invested in it as some others. If the industry goes too far south, I'll quit and go back to what I used to do.

I do enjoy it. I enjoy goofing off with the crews, reading the USA today on the early morning flights, padding my logbook really well, etc. I don't like the commuting, many nights in hotels, the constant rumor mills and complaining, worrying about the nasty fed over my shoulder, etc.

And honestly, I probably knew more about flying as a whole when I was exclusively in GA than I do now. 121 is such a specialized field. Flight plans are handed to you, you are in constant comm with dispatch, it just isn't the same as completely fending for yourself as I was used to doing. So many of the little rules and tricks that I taught students have accumulated so much dust now. Part of me actually feels like less of a pilot now than I was then.

Anyway, time will tell what I do. My point here is that even after doing it for a year, I am still on the fence. Like I said, right now its just good enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other. However, it probably wouldn't take much to push me over the edge and pull out of this.

If you want to log hours like there is no tomorrow, this job is good for you.

If you want to be a damn good pilot, and enjoy good QOL, but don't care about amassing loads of hours, then I'd go find another job and buy an airplane, work on it, fly it, teach on the side, etc.

Its not really this job or no flying. Sure, flying is an expensive hobby. But a C150 ot 172 isn't that expensive really. $100 hamburgers are pretty tasty. No SOP, no GOM, no crew scheduling.