Look how self righteous you are.
Let's see the other side of your logic. It took me two years to get my private. Doing it the same way you are so proud of doing things....paying for it on my own. Oh and I started this when I was 18. I got my four yr degree in something totally outside of aviation. I must be a shining star in your eyes for that. Then it took me another 3 years before I started instructing. That was spent getting all my other ratings and selling cars.... Ya know, building a side job as you say. Fast forward to now, I'm still instructing.
While my friend who has been in the regionals for 5 years now has prospects of getting on with a mainline carrier. Yeah he has debt but it was the same amount as me. He has a four yr degree. Difference is, he spent money to make this career a reality while I did it your way. I've literally passed up 5 years in seniority doing it your way. That being said, just because YOU have the funds to do what your doing, you'll still be adding to the problem when you go to the airlines. You'll still be taking a patchy and when your complaining then too, you'll look back and realize that you may have had an opportunity to speed thing a up a bit. All the while, the people you thought you where better than because they put themselves in debt, as you say, will be looking at mainline jobs while you had just gotten on to your regional of choice.
You mention taking a job for a good salary and not some regional job. Here's some food for thought. After you have 1500 hours, you'll most likely have very little multi, if any and at best 500 hours of dual given. If you actually do all your time in a 152 as you say, the chances of having instrument time being actual, will be slim to none. Who's gonna hire you now? Not much...
There are three instructors that have held out at my flight school for corporate jobs because they don't want to go to a regional. They are all running into the same problem. High total time and high multi time and no turbine time. No one wants to hire them. Just food for thought.
My point to this rant is nothing against you, it's against the attitude you project saying how you think your way is such a great way to do things. When the truth is it's just a different way that has very strong pros but also some very big cons. That is all.
I am a big proponent of paying as you go and enjoying the journey. I commend you for doing that. It's smart financially. However, someone who wants to do this for a career needs to realize that the more time they take getting the quals they need, someone else is filling their seat. The truth hurts and so does the pay. However one has to do what they need to do if they want to see somewhat of a solid career whether it's for 121 or corporate. There are people who made your plan work and they had a bit of luck with timing ad or meeting people at the right place and the right time.
At the end of the day, I do honestly praise you for your way. That's what I did. It's the smartest way financially!!! Keep it up! Keep us posted of your progress as well and spread your love of flying with someone new!
