Question
What are the upsides and downsides of becoming a chiropractor?

Answer
wow, that is a loaded question.  I will give you a few of each:

Upsides:I do not use drugs for anything
I am part of a healing process that does not have bad side effects.
I get to work with people and give them their life back, even when no one else can, because I can see more than the sum of the parts.

Downsides:
It is hard to know that you can help someone, but that they will not do what they must because of faulty beliefs.
it is hard to make a living in the beginning because the old in our profession look upon the young as parasites and the insurance companies do not truly understand what we do, and thus refuse to adequately cover the patients who use us.

My own business runs mostly on cash paying patients that are coming to me because no one else can help them, and their insurance keeps running them to places that cost money, but do not help.  The frustration for me happens when I find out just how much they have spent on problems that still need to be fixed. Usually, the fix is not that expensive (at a chiropractors) and is easier than most of the  "cures" that the insurance companies DO pay for.  It really is a shame.
I hope that answers your questions