I'm a CPA, and I've been working for about 10 years now. I have at least 5 more years before FI.
I passed the exam right after graduating. (2nd to last paper and pencil exam, all four sections in 2 amazingly stressful days!) I was working at a regional firm at the time, it was my first real job, it was my first busy season (December graduate), and I studied my ass off for that exam. I had post-its on the outside of a clear shower curtain so I could study while washing my hair. It was nuts. So, point number one, it takes a real effort to pass that sucker, even if you get to focus on one section at a time. I'll be forever proud that I did it, though. So maybe you can give it one really serious effort?
I really like my job. I have also definitely had many jobs that I hated, all in accounting. It has to do with the company culture and your supervisor, your colleagues, the work, and your ability to do it. I definitely want to RE, but really there are days when I think I will miss going in to work at my current job. Am I passionate about accounting? No, not really, I find it hard to believe that anyone would be passionate about a set of rules for recording transactions. But I really like tinkering in excel, making sense of numbers, improving processes, etc. I would guess a lot of mustachians like to do that kind of stuff, actually! People that spend time thinking about the most efficient ways to get things done make really great accountants, IMO. I like accounting in the sense that there must be balance. Sometimes it's like solving puzzles, I like that, too.
I started my career in the DC metro area, but have since moved to a suburb of Philly. My starting salary in 2003 was a measly 36K. (Yeah, I got lowballed, for sure.) I stayed in public for just 2 years, leaving just one raise later at 40K, and then moved to corporate accounting. My starting salary in corporate as a staff accountant was 45K (2005), and within 6 months I was promoted to senior and my salary went to 50K. Only stayed a year at that job before moving to another senior position at 70K (2006). I relocated from the DC to Philly area, and landed another senior job at 80K (2007). Only stayed a year, then took time off to be a SAHP. Re-entered the workforce in 2010 in another senior position, at 80K, which I was grateful for, given the economy. Stayed at that job for 4 years, but the environment got pretty bad (too bad, first two years were great, but I made the mistake of taking a lateral move there that didn't work for me). My salary had climbed to $92K, and I left for a new job and environment I love for $85K. I think my point is here that it only took me 2.5 years to get to a senior position, and only 3 years to get to 70K, and my salary has continued on a pretty decent upward path despite remaining "only" in a senior role for the last 7 years. I like the work, I like that I don't really need to manage a staff (I only did that at my very first senior position), and mostly I like that I can pull in this kind of salary for a job that is mostly "easy" for me.
You like writing long expositions on obscure laws? There's definitely a place for you in accounting, like regulatory and compliance positions. And I definitely think getting the CPA will help you land interviews. Corporate places like to see them, they think they prove that you are clever or at least persistent. Whether that is true or not, I'm not sure. But as far as respected credentials, it's definitely a good bang for the buck. No hefty tuition, just exam fees and your studying time. Most companies will pay for your CPE and association dues once you are licensed, too. I don't think it's a hard exam to pass, you just need to put in the time to prepare/study. I think most accounting concepts/rules are easy enough for an average person to understand. You just have to look at them long enough to remember them for the test.