All I have to say is  

Weird some of you guys keep making this accusation.  If I was hitting it hard and trying to sell you flight training, airline interview prep or was an airline recruiter telling "you will be a Captain in nine months" that would be one thing, but what do I personally gain by asking you to consider all aspects of an airline career beyond a pay scale you probably don't understand?

What you call "downplaying" are the realities.  I am accentuating the realities of life as an airline pilot as I experienced them and the people I know that are still in the industry continue to experience. So what have I been wrong about?  I have backed up everything I said, and linked or referred everything I have been saying.  

The theme seems to be is I give you industry norms like commuting, and you think they are exaggerations.  You guys come back in one instance telling me you make $180,000 flying a 500 if that suits your argument, then saying airline pilots make three times as much as helicopter pilots, but with no context, as if every fixed wing pilot is a senior 777 captain at American.  How about the guy who said a 21 year old makes double what a helicopter pilot makes?  Anyone call that guy on the carpet?  Do you know of many 21 year old airline pilots? 

More Truths:

Getting your fixed wing ratings will take longer and cost more than you thought.

I did not have to do this but by every account the  ATP-CTP course will annoy if you not make you angry, especially if you already have an ATP-H.

You will apply for many jobs and never hear anything back from the company and others will call you seemingly before you even hit send on your computer. 

You will probably underprepared for your first airline interview then over prepare for the next. 

Nobody cares if you flew helicopters except other helicopter pilots.  Someone will tell you IFR in a helicopter must be easy since you can just fly over the airport and descend out of the clouds.

Even if your instrument skills are sharp airline training is hard.  The sheer volume of procedural information, flows, and callouts are difficult for almost everyone.  Don't be surprised when people in your new hire class disappear, just make sure it isn't you. 

If you are not constantly studying in training and IOE you are wrong. 

Expect your IOE to be delayed.  With all the hiring, training departments are backed up on doing IOE.  

Seniority is everything.  When you are new and the bids come out plan on reserve lines with little flying for about a year. 

You will likely commute.  A good roller bag is critical.  Discuss with other pilots, it's more important than you think. 

Upgrade will take longer than you thought, and if you go the regional route, you will be at a regional longer than you thought.

Someone supposedly calculated that when you send in your resume to a major airline when they have a hiring window your chance of getting called for an interview are abou 1 in 4,000.