A quick google suggests that the price of a lesson is $160-$240 an hour, including instructor's fee. Private pilot 's licence (according to the same infobox) goes for $9k-$15k.
It's not cheap, but it's not unfathomably expensive either. I would guess within reach for about half the US folk on here - based on the assumption that that population heavily skews to high-paying tech roles.
That's the entry ticket price my friend. Beyond that you also have continuing currency requirements and that basic license pretty much only allows you to fly on clear weather days.
Which is also a problem because weather changes during flight. So if you actually want to travel with a plane you rented, you're going to need an instrument rating, which costs about as much as the initial license.
So you're out the price of a new mid-tier sedan, which you had to pay in cash upfront, and all you have to show for it is a card that says you can rent someone else's plane to go somewhere, AFTER they make you do a check ride with one of their local instructors anyway. You'll also then be renting the even more expensive IFR rated planes. And I hope you're doing this with aviation renter's insurance, which most places actually don't make you carry...but planes are expensive, remember? And you're borrowing one because you can't afford your own. And you're a low flight time pilot at this point, so enjoy those insurance premiums.
Software people are well paid enough to do all this, yes. So are lawyers and doctors. But that amounts to around 1% or less of the US population.
It's not cheap, but it's not unfathomably expensive either. I would guess within reach for about half the US folk on here - based on the assumption that that population heavily skews to high-paying tech roles.