lynx:
Let me help you a little with this and tell you why everyone is basically criticizing you.
Flying for free or PFT ("Paying For Training" or "Paying For Time") is the quickest way to get the entire aviation community (pilots, first officers, engineers, navigators, bombardiers, students, etc.) against you. Yes, everyone is pretty much going through some tough times. Those that have jobs are either thankful they have a flying job, are looking for a better-paying flying job, or are trying to find a non-flying job just so they can pay their bills. If people start paying for their advanced flight training (anything after your commerical and instructor ratings) or start working for low or no wages, then everyone else will be expected to do the same. This is not what we need to have happen. Companies would love to have their pilots pay for training and work for lower wages. It would put more money in the manager's pockets (most of which don't deserve it and certainly don't need it).
Truck drivers and pizza delivery people get paid more than most low-time (I'd say less than 2000 hours total time) aviators and they don't have half the responsibility or have to know half the knowledge that is required to take tests, both written and oral, and perform the job functions. That's a perfect example of why we don't need pilots flying for little or no wages.