I fly and was a controller for 29 years. The stresses of operating an aircraft on a daily basis do not compare to working moderate to busy RADAR traffic.
We may as crew members be called upon to act quickly in a bad situation, and there are stresses involved in IFR operations, but I have yet to see the continuous pressure live ATC exposes one to.
I respect your ATC/piloting experience and I know for a fact that I could not do that job (ATC) - so no worry about me there
- but I have to add that I think the daily stress of hanging your butt out there on the line outweighs the ATC pressure. Seems a lot more pilots are in mishaps than ATC controllers. Sort of like my near mid-air in the pattern last week....enough blame to go around for everyone I'm sure but it was only the people's butts in the airplanes who's lives were at stake.
USMCFLYR