When I was young, I could get flight lessons from WW II, Korean, or Vietnam veteran pilots for a song. Many of the instructors were friends of my Dad. I would wash and refuel planes and could earn some of my lessons and fuel.
Insurance was cheap, and airspace regulations outside of the big airports favored general aviation. There were no FAA rules for expensive avionics or navaids. If I wanted to fly our friend's Champ, Cessna 150, or Taylorcraft, I could do so with minimal equipment on board.
Today, all of that has changed. And as you say, the numbers don't add up anymore.
Yeah. My Instrument instructor flew P-47's in The War. Out of England. Escorting -17s.
No one could hold a heading like Bob. He explained: when they took off from the greens in England, it was line abreast into the morning overcast. Lead guy went straight, left echelon turn 10 deg left, right echelon turn 10 deg right. Everyone form back up on top. With AN gyros...
If you couldn't hold a holding like on a knife edge then you were going to run into cumulus aluminus.
Great guy. Charged me all of $7 hr in 1978.