Keep in mind that you could log a 40 hour work week as an instructor. Now you'll be crediting half that on average. It doubled your pay...but it halved the amount of time you're getting paid for. Of course, if you were at a small FBO only doing a couple flights a week, this probably doesn't apply to you.

As far as CFI's complaining about being broke...get a job at a flight school attached to a university - there's more out there then UND and ERAU. You have a set student base and it usually includes a lot more multi than the local FBO. That's what I did and I was salaried clearing 44K a year. Plus, you get Xmas, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, etc. off If I could've made more then mid-40's working there, I would've retired at it quite happy with my career.