I started this whole thing when I was 16 years old, I started flying professionally at the age of 18. I supported and paid for my college education by flight instructing. If I were at a position of being 33 and wanting to start a new career with a wife and a family and I had the cash, PFT is the only way to go. I can attest that until you get into the seat of a large airplane you will not make the kind of money you need to pay the bills. I don't mean the majors but any large aircraft. The big airplanes pay the bills. I made 60k flying Learjets and now with the 737-800 I get paid 88K per year with OT and a lot of hard work. I know this is just chicken feed for our major airlines friends but I am in the minor leagues and more than not I will stay here. I just don't have that much time left. I have flown a solid 500 hours per year since I started, so you guys can figure out my age. I agree with the previous post, if you don't have the time PFT is the way to go. If you do have the time to smell the roses and and get some great experience along the way, more power to you. The bottom line is getting to a job that you can pay the bills and give you one of the other pleasures in life-raising a family. There is nothing in the world like watching your high school son hit a home run.....nothing.