The fact that pilot's wages are lower is just an indicator in the slip of the dollar. A family in the US used to be able to survive on one income, that is rare these days. Massive inflation caused by bad policy has destroyed the old living standard, now our living std is just based on debt. The regional game has made it purposefully very difficult to get ahead, they bankrupt airlines to cut labor costs, and lack of job mobility exacerbates the problem. The longer the majors can keep you poorly paid at a regional, the better it is for them. ALPA goes along with this. The airline career, like no other, is largely out of the control of the participants. If you get in at the right time, IF you can upgrade, IF your airline doesn't go bankrupt, IF your (regional) doesn't lose the contract(s), IF your health stays good, IF there isn't a major crisis somewhere, IF you don't get furloughed, IF, IF, IF. In other fields, you can actually quit and find another job w/o taking such a huge loss, and have more control over your advancement and schedule.
So for someone who put up with the BS for a certain amount of time, then realized the cons weren't worth it, is he wrong to state so? Barry Schiff, Sully and other notables have even said they wouldn't recommend the career anymore.