SkyHigh: I must add that although you have every right to post whatever you want on here I don't understand your motivation. If you've given up on flying for a living that is fine. Why come on to an aviation website and bash folks for doing what you have decided against? Why not move on? No matter what you say on here there will still be thousands of kids every year who look up into the sky and watch a plane fly off into the distance and think to themselves how cool it would be to being flying that plane. Many of them will follow through and go on to be great pilots and live the dream. Some of them will make a lot of money, some won't. Some will luck into a cush major job, sail into retirement without fuss or furlough, and others will be beset will difficulties, furloughs, bankruptcys and whatnot. Just like every other vocation out there. We have the right to PURSUE happiness and success, none to achieve it. Give advice to those that ask and offer your thoughts, but don't try to steer people away from attempting to reach their dreams.
Good luck to you.