There are 9000 pilots on furlough in the US alone. Thousands are also "made redundant" in Europe. Perhaps you can see a positive in that, but the reality is, it is tough. None of us can foresee the future, but based on the past, the future of the airline pilot business will probably never be what is was 10 or 20 years ago in the next 10 or 20 years.

But, maybe you don't need to make $300,000 a year to fly a heavy a few times a month. Will you be satisfied with one tenth that amount, working 20 days a month? Or being away from home on reserve for years? Or waiting 5, 10, or even 20 years for upgrade? Then getting the upgrade at your regional to then wait years and years to maybe get a job at a major airline, that might pay more, and it might pay less.... and you'll be on the bottom of another seniority list, subject to the next market downturn and probable furlough.

Consider yourself lucky that you've only invested 200 hours; that won't get you any job today, and in the future when hiring inevitably resumes, 2000 hours might not get you an airline job.

Perhaps you'll "work for nothing" to get that 2000 hours. When you're getting your first airline job, you'll get paid close to nothing, 'cuz it's all worth it. And then you'll get furloughed. Will it be worth it then? Even if you don't get furloughed, how long will your desire to fly propel you?

Maybe you'll luck out and all the stars will align. I know guys who've gotten 4 month upgrades. Others have moved straight from minimum hours in their single seat military jet to a heavy Delta Boeing jet flying the world. And guys who have retired with millions in the bank.

It's your gamble.