Yes, this is reality of bitcoin-mining now.

Don't expect to earn a dime unless you are some kind of super-nerd with a 1'000 square-feet basement filled with super-computers (or ASICs) and a mini nuclear-plant under your bed that keeps you warm at night.

So unless you are this crazy super-nerd I described above; if you wanna "earn" money now, your best (and only) bet would be to start as a speculator and actually buy bitcoins at MtGox, btc-e or bitstamp and HOLD them for a couple years and hope price goes up. Lots of ice-buckets on your stomach recommended.

Not really a bad idea. I would rather "bet" on bitcoins than any real-life stock-market company right now. Both are risky, but bitcoins in my eyes much less risky than the dang stock-market.

As you said yourself: "It doesn't make sense mining this."

Sounds like a pretty intelligent conclusion to me. You're obviously a clever dude; start trusting your own intelligence more. You seem to have enough of it, just need to add a dash of self-confidence and you'll soon find a way to conquer the world with it.

Never forget the old quote:

"During the Klondike Gold-Rush, the ones who got rich was not the miners; but those who crafted and sold the tools they used."