I have yet to settle on PT, and this is super cheesy, but I'm drawn to the idea of supporting tangible (measurable!) improvements in people's quality of life, in a way that is empowering & constructive, rather than stigmatizing. Am good at small group and one-on-one instruction/facilitation. Generally dig people & like to be helpful in practical ways that still permit getting to know them, a bit.
Like others have said, the body in movement, in healing, is a wonder. Physical fitness has meant quite a lot to me personally. Would love the chance to support activity and mobility for others.
The most appealing is getting to use inductive and deductive reasoning on a daily basis; to research and apply best practices; to learn, all the time.
Even compliance issues -- reaching the patient in his/her own language, uncovering & addressing resistance to treatment, modifying treatment to fit personality -- sound like good challenge.
So much about the lifestyle. Autonomy (both legally & in terms of just working day to day -- having a good amount of time where no one's looking over your shoulder), variety of daily work, flexibility of working arrangements, portability of licensure, reasonable expectation of security.
My impression is that you can work part-time and still survive, if you're single and not bothered about being wealthy, or if you want a family. If you're driven to make bank you can do that too. Maybe open a little clinic, someday. (I just want to be able to support myself, travel now and then, and enjoy what I do every day; the variety and flexibility are a bigger draw for me.)
edit: heh, I say 'make bank', maybe not I guess compared to what most of the wider forum can expect, but I wouldn't think it very wrong to suggest that PTs can have comfortable lifestyles.