For what it is worth, I do not have my CFI and sometimes wish I did.

I was fortunate to fall right into one of those aerial mapping jobs right after finishing up my commercial ratings, so I never continued on to get my CFI. I went from the mapping gig to the regionals. This was back when the regionals were hiring like mad. After my furlough from the regionals, I could not find a flying gig to save my life. My friends who got furloughed went back to instructing... some of them making decent money while doing it.. they were staying current, building time, etc etc.

After 13 months of not touching an airplane I managed to get an interview at a 135 gig (Ameriflight). I hopped in a sim (on my dime), and was rusty as hell. I hopped in a plane and got a BFR and IPC which were not very good after not flying so long, and managed to get hired at AMF.

I think if I were to try and go that same route with this next regional hiring wave, I would not get selected. The aerial mapping time is great... but it is single engine, mostly daytime vfr. No multi time, not much IFR, and not much night... Regionals will be selective in the beginning, because they can.

CFI would be a great experience, invaluable to you as a person, and gives you a great fallback or side gig to stay current and have fun with general aviation.