"...then why are so many relatives of professional pilots becoming professional pilots themselves?"

Maybe the answer is....it's not so bad?

You have to want to get into the biz for the right reasons. Money is the wrong reason. I was born for this and would have made it work one way or another. Others give it a try and fall by the wayside, for various reasons. It's really up the the individual and their personal situation and goals in life.

But, don't come to the "leaving the career" forum, expecting a balanced opinion on the career. Hope that makes sense. You're in the wrong place to get "balance"...