[csallen]

Doing research, writing code, testing your product, and ultimately launching it are lessons that are applicable to actual business. Of course, they can be misapplied to what essentially amounts to gambling, but so can any other valuable skill. (e.g. If Sebastian put on his selling hat, started taking on investors, and charging them a fee.)

The fact remains that many people never develop these skills, never get over these hurdles, and oftentimes don't even realize that these hurdles exist. They find it motivational to read about people who did. Especially a teenager like Sebastian.

And ofc you're right: Sebastian is no different than others who came before. But that's never been a criteria for being on Indie Hackers. I find it somewhat telling that the people who are up-in-arms about this interview consist almost exclusively of those working in finance or who've experimented with algorithmic trading.