It would be better for everyone else, though - which is generally what we should aim for. Better that than the status quo, where they arrange things for their own benefit at our expense - ObamaCare exemption, generous salaries and other benefits of the job...
Term limits would be a big help I think - or actually, a slight modification of the Russian term limit on Presidents: require everyone running for office to be out of public office for the preceding term. No incumbents, they never get too comfortable living on the public purse - so every Senator would have spent at least six of the last twelve years living as a regular member of the public, dealing with the IRS, TSA and all the other fun things just like everyone else.
That said, I haven't seen any ways direct democracy would be any worse: it might in theory be as bad in some respects, but not any worse, and of course on the plus side it is much more accountable and responsive, so why not go in that direction?