I instructed for almost 2000 hrs and I'll tell you what when I started intervieving at airlines I felt I was definately an asset to their operation rather than an $8.00 per hour guy that talks to atc and bothers the cap. Also if you try to take shortcuts (like skipping the CFI bit) several airlines will notice and not want you. Your career WILL be in jeapordy. As much as you think you know now instruct for a few hundred hours then, if you can tell me you didn't learn a LOT I think you should then go buy a job.