[Baeocystin]

Having been on both ends of the income spectrum over the years, I am convinced that curiosity/side-project questions are simple proxies for financial stability rather than anything deeper. The only people who will have the time & energy to do such things are ones whose more prosaic needs have been met. FWIW.

[WrtCdEvrydy]

True, it can be a proxy for it but even the desire to want a personal project (it's not a side project, it's not a hussle check) implies the person sees the development field as more than just a paycheck.

Someone seeing the field as just a paycheck will often cease to want to improve themselves, take new challenges and other desired traits.

Sadly, some of these conversations do devolve into some weird eugenics-like items....