I knew that this would be a response taken by some and was even going to include a disclaimer in my post to this effect. My intention was not to do it temporarily. But after what has gone down in recent times, it is more a matter of making lemonade.

However, why we do what we do is a personal thing. If someone wants to be a pilot (professionally or otherwise) and is young with little overhead and has the dream to be an airline pilot, but yet reads all there is to read about the negatives on this board, I believe it is in his/her best interest to "try" out the job for a while to really SEE what it is like.

My point is that after seeing it for myself, my appreciation for it (both positives and negatives) is MUCH more complete than it would have been had I merely listened to others' takes on it.

For some, the "dream" which may or may not exist (that is up to the individual to decide) is a tough thing to just shelve. If one tries out the career, then shelves it, I believe that a greater level of happiness can be achieved than one who always dreams about what it would have been like.

There are a multitude of more serious things that have/are diluting this career.

A handful of folks who are going in eyes wide open with the ability to bale out if things prove crappy might actually be better for the profession than a bunch of guys who are stuck with no options except to deal with it or join the unemployment line.

Your point is well received, however.